Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Second state firefighter believed dead in California wildfires

Authorities say a firefighter who died Saturday while scouting a Northern California blaze is likely a fire chief from Washington state.

YREKA, Calif. — Authorities say a firefighter who died Saturday while scouting a Northern California blaze is likely a fire chief from Washington state.

Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Susan Gravenkamp said Sunday that investigators believed the firefighter was 49-year-old Daniel Packer of Lake Tapps.

Gravenkamp said the 250-acre fire was preventing crews from recovering the body to make a positive identification but that several other firefighters who escaped from the scene identified the victim as Packer, chief of East Pierce County Fire & Rescue in a 142-square-mile area with a population of 72,000 east of Tacoma.

Packer, immediate past president of the Washington Fire Chiefs Association, was working as a division supervisor in the Siskiyou Mountains, according to a news release and death notice from Spokane Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.

"He was overrun by the fire when the wind shifted unexpectedly," Schaeffer wrote.

In his work with the chiefs association, Packer was especially involved in state emergency mobilization and incident management team planning, Schaeffer added.

Flags at fire stations in the Eastern Washington and other jurisdictions around Washington state were lowered to half staff.

Klamath National Forest spokesman Duane Lyons said a U.S. Forest Service team would arrive Monday to investigate the cause of his death.

Eighteen-year-old Washington state firefighter Andrew Palmer died Friday after he was hit by a falling tree while battling another Northern California wildfire.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Local News headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan

Flood fears dampen business, home sales

Nicole Brodeur: Homeless woman bent on giving

NEW - 04:09 PM
Chuckanut Drive to be closed up to a week

Everett Symphony may cancel rest of season after holiday shows

Advertising

Video

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising