OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 7:16 AM PT — Tues. August 14, 2018
California’s largest wildfire in state history turns deadly after a firefighter is killed on the front lines.
The unidentified firefighter passed away Monday night after being airlifted to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
The man is reportedly from Utah and was working to contain an active portion of the Ranch Fire — part of the larger Mendocino Complex Fire — at the time of his death.
Firefighters monitor a backfire while battling the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire, on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, near Ladoga, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Authorities are investigating the events leading up to his death and are working to notify the firefighter’s family.
“We are extremely heartbroken for this loss, we are dedicated to investigating what happened and why, we will release more information as it becomes available,” stated Incident Commander Sean Kavanaugh. “We mourn as we also battle California’s largest wildfire that continues to burn extremely remote and steep terrain.”
A total of six firefighters have been killed by California wildfires this season. Two firefighters died while battling the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite last month and another three were killed fighting the Carr Fire near Redding.
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