AZ Wildland Firefighter Found Dead

From abc15.com:

Authorities say a firefighter was found dead while working on a lightning-caused fire near Whiteriver last weekend.

Fort Apache Hotshot crew member Deon "Dino" Classay was found deceased after he failed to return to an established camp on the evening on July 23, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Classay, 43, was part of a crew fighting the Diamond Fire on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

As resources returned to camp for the night, the incident commander determined Classay was not accounted for and initiated a search.

After attempts to locate Classay were unsuccessful, local, county and state law enforcement agencies were called in.

Classay's body was found at 6:18 a.m. on July 24, according to authorities.

Firefighters Battling Wildfire Find 339 Sticks of Dynamite

From the AP, via MiamiHerald.com:

Firefighters battling a massive wildfire in south Georgia discovered 339 sticks of dynamite, and a U.S. Army bomb squad was called to detonate the explosives.

The firefighters battling the wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp area were told the dynamite found Monday was left over from a construction project decades ago. Authorities said it had been stored in a bunker-like facility near a park building.

Read more HERE. For a free training program on fire response to explosives, CLICK HERE.

Two Firefighters Killed Fighting FL Wildfire

From msnbc.com:

Two firefighters died and two others were injured Monday while fighting the Blue Ribbon wildfire in northern Florida, officials said.

The deaths occurred in Hamilton County near the Florida-Georgia border, the Division of Forestry said late Monday.

WJXT-TV reported that according to its sources the two men were on tractors trying cut fire lines in the ground to stop the fire from spreading when the flames overtook them.

The names of the firefighters have not yet been released pending family notification. Read more HERE and HERE.

LODD: Texas Firefighter Elias Jaquez, Dead at 49

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has reported the death of Volunteer Firefighter Elias Jaquez, 49, of the Cactus Volunteer Fire Department of Cactus, Texas. Jaquez died as a result of serious burns on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

The USFA notice states:

"Firefighter Jaquez, and three other firefighters were injured after a Dumas and Cactus, TX, fire truck became stuck in the rough terrain while operating on a wildland firefight. Jaquez suffered 3rd degree burns over 60% of his body and was rushed for treatment to the Lubbock Burn Center where he remained in critical condition until his passing."

The USFA notice continues to advise that funeral arrangements are pending and that a benefit fund has been established in honor of Firefighter Elias Jaquez at the Happy State Bank at https://www.happybank.com/.

A tribute is also being paid to Firefighter Elias Jaquez at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

The USFA reports that to date, 31 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011.

New L.A. County (CA) Fire Chief Wants Better Wildfire Protection

From MercuryNews.com:

Los Angeles County's new fire chief wants to better protect the communications towers and historic observatory on Mount Wilson against wildfires.

The Los Angeles Times reports Tuesday that Fire Chief Daryl Osby wants to expand the brush clearance zone around Mount Wilson to 100 feet, or perhaps 300 feet in some areas.

Mount Wilson was seriously threatened by a major 2009 wildfire. Read more HERE.

Firefighter Killed in North Texas Wildfires

The harsh winds and dry temperatures in Eastland County in North Texas have hampered efforts to contain wildfires that claimed the life of Eastland (TX) Volunteer Firefighter Gregory M. Simmons, 51. Reports state Simmons was overcome by smoke on a rural road. The fires have also claimed more than 30 homes with 200 more threatened by the rapidly-spreading fire. "Greg was a seasoned veteran and invaluable member of the department and community and we are all at a loss for words at this time," Eastland Fire Chief Phillip Arther said in a news release. Simmons is survived by his wife, Carrie, and two daughters. For more on this fire and Firefighter Simmons, click here and here.

Apparatus Woes Hinder OK Firefighters in Wildfire Fight

From www.kjrh.com in Oklahoma:

Wildfires are sweeping across Oklahoma, and volunteer firefighters are on the front lines trying to keep you safe.

In Osage County, firefighters are having issues getting to the fires. Some of their fire trucks are from the 1970's, and they keep breaking down. That's not getting firefighters to the scene any faster.

The fire trucks at the Green Country Volunteer Fire Department are running low on juice.

"The fire's coming at us and we're trying to get our trucks to work and they're just not working," said volunteer firefighter Blake Fredericksen. But replacing them isn't an option right now.

For more on this story, including video, CLICK HERE.

Firefighter Critical from Burns in TX Wildfire

The AP reports via www.chron.com:

A firefighter is hospitalized after being critically burned while battling a wildfire in the Texas Panhandle.

A nursing supervisor at University Medical Center in Lubbock says Cactus firefighter Elias Jacquez remained in critical condition Tuesday.

Jacquez suffered third-degree burns over 60 percent of his body Saturday while fighting a fire that charred 60,000 acres about 40 miles north of Amarillo.

Read MORE.

AK Wildland Firefighter Shot by Soldiers

From newsminer.com, reporting from Fairbanks:

A Fort Wainwright soldier fired multiple shots from a pellet gun at a wildland firefighter who was running near a road on post last week, hitting him twice.

The shooting occurred when four soldiers reportedly pulled up in a vehicle alongside the firefighter Wednesday afternoon and rolled down the windows. Several shots were then fired from a single gun.

The firefighter was reportedly hit in the back and the elbow and not seriously injured.

Read more HERE.