A member of the Lolo Hotshots died Saturday while fighting a fire in Nevada, according to the National Park Service.
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The Strawberry Fire is being managed by Great Basin Incident Management Team 7, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
They describe him as a charismatic, rugged Vermonter who ‘devoted his life to the woods and people.
Another rampaging wildfire that descended on a small Northern California town over the weekend destroyed more than 100 homes and businesses, authorities said today, as crews fought to save more dwellings from the flames.
No other details about the accident were immediately available on Monday, said Adrienne Freeman, a public information officer for the National Park Service who traveled to the scene on Sunday from Yosemite National Park in California.
Justin Beebe, 26, was severely injured when a tree fell on him as Beebe and other members of the Lolo Hotshots were battling the so-called Strawberry Fire, which was sparked last week by a lightning strike.
“His family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers”, Lolo National Forest Supervisor Tim Garcia said in a statement. “As we mourn the loss of a member of our USDA family, we are grateful for Justin’s courageous service and the service of all of our U.S. Forest Service employees working to protect our nation”, he said.
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Beebe’s family said he had a passion for people and the outdoors, and had hoped to become a paramedic.
