Port Townsend man killed on fire line in Northern California
Andy Palmer's high school graduation photo. He graduated from Port Townsend High School in June.
By Greg Skinner, for Peninsula Daily New
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Palmer was struck by a falling tree on Friday while working the Iron Complex fires burning in Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Weaverville, Calif.
Authorities said Palmer died aboard a Coast Guard helicopter while he was being airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, Calif., about 50 miles east of the fire line.
Palmer is the first Olympic National Park firefighter to die in the line of duty in more than 20 years, park spokeswoman Barb Maynes said Saturday.
"He was extremely energetic, and dedicated to his job," Maynes said.
"He was eager and excited to fight fires."
Beyond describing Palmer's injuries as "multiple," Maynes had no details.
Details pending
She expects information detailing how the tree hit the rookie crew member within the next 72 hours.
No cause of death was released.
Palmer's death is under investigation.
A team made up of U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management personnel was expected to arrive in Redding on Saturday to begin the investigation, Maynes said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will conduct a separate investigation, said Traci Weaver, Shasta-Trinity National Forest area command information center spokeswoman.
"He was a bright and shining star," Port Townsend High School Athletic Director Scott Ricardo said, speaking from the Port Townsend home of Palmer's father, Dr. Robert Palmer Jr.
Ricardo, Palmer's football line coach, said the family was not taking calls Saturday.
Crew on loan
The Olympic National Park wildland firefighting crew was on loan to the Forest Service to help battle a group of fires started by a June 21 lightning storm.
Palmer was hired by the park as a full-time seasonal wildland firefighter in early June.
He went through 80 hours of basic fire training, which included water-pumping methods and chain-saw training, Maynes said.
Palmer worked one small fire before going to California, leaving Port Angeles with his crew on Tuesday, Maynes said.
'Mop up' operations
Palmer was performing "mop up" operations in already-burned section of the 72,000-acre wildfire, in terrain described as "extreme."
Palmer's crew was downing "hazard trees" when one hit him, Weaver said.
"It was not an active fire site," she said.
Palmer's crew returned to Port Angeles on Saturday to meet with a Critical Incident Stress Management Team.
Investigators did not interview Palmer's crewmates before they returned home, Weaver said.
That will come later, she said.
"It's a typical response to any kind of serious accident," Maynes said.
"We will do everything as an agency to assist the Critical Incident Management Team."
Maynes said on Saturday that no firm arrangements had been made, but that the Park Service was working with Palmer's family to bring his body home.
Ricardo said that Palmer was a hard worker on and off the field.
"I can see him going down there, wanting to help out and trying to do his best," Ricardo said.
"We mourn Andy's death and offer our support and deepest condolences to his family," Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park superintendent, said.
Flags at Park Service areas throughout the six-state Pacific West region will be flown at half-staff until further notice.
Last modified: July 26. 2008 9:00PM