Governor Kitzhaber orders flags at half-staff for wildland firefighter

Governor Kitzhaber orders flags at half-staff for wildland firefighter

29 August 2013

published by www.statesmanjournal.com

USA — Gov. Kitzhaber on Thursday ordered all flags at public buildings to be flown at half staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, Aug. 31 to honor wildland firefighter Oscar Montano-Garcia of Medford.

According to the Applegate Valley Fire District, which responded to the scene, Montano-Garcia, 50, who was under contract to the U.S. Forest Service, collapsed and died Aug. 25 while on the job at the Nabob Fire in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in Northern California. Emergency personnel at the scene administered CPR, but were unsuccessful.

Applegate Valley Fire Operations Chief Chris Wolfard said the death is “considered a line of duty death.”

“… Oscar Montano-Garcia was a crew foreman with a long history of both working in and enjoying Oregon¹s forests,” Kitzhaber said…”

 We are saddened by this difficult loss. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and I urge all Oregonians to take a moment to remember Oscar, his dedication to public safety, and his sacrifice.”