Utah firefighter dies in line of duty while battling California blaze

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MENDOCINO COUNTY, California, Aug. 14, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — A Utah firefighter has been killed in the line of duty.

The name of the fallen firefighter — identified as a member of the Draper Fire Department — has yet to be released.

He died Monday evening after being severely injured at the site of California’s Ranch Fire burning in the Mendocino Complex north of San Francisco.

According to incident commander Sean Kavanaugh, the Draper firefighter was working on an “active portion of the fire” when he was injured. He was airlifted to a local hospital, where he died a short while later.

“We are extremely heartbroken by this loss,” Kavanaugh said. “We are dedicated to investigating what happened and will release more information as it becomes available. We mourn as we also battle California’s largest wildfire, which continues to burn in extremely steep and remote terrain.”

The Mendocino Complex formed when the Ranch and River fires burned together, creating the biggest, most costly wildfire in California history. Since starting July 27, the fires have burned more than 328,000 acres and destroyed 139 homes.

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Almond also offered his community’s condolences on Monday’s loss. He said the tragedy should remind locals just how dangerous the fire still is with just 67 percent containment.

“If this could happen to a firefighter, it could certainly happen to citizens,” Almond said.

“To the men and women who have circled us today and the hundreds of firefighters I have seen everyday — we thank you. We thank you for coming to our small corner of the world, risking your life, being away from your family.”

“Today, tomorrow, next year we will mourn the loss of a new hero,” Almond said.

Forty Utah firefighters from seven agencies around the state caravanned to California in early August, the third year in a row Utah fire crews have answered the Golden State’s call for help with its massive wildfires.

Dozens of Utah firefighters prepare to caravan to California to help with the states runaway wildfires August 2 2018 Drone photo Gephardt DailyMonico GarzaSLCScanner

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