June 23, 2002


Firefighters struggle to cope with loss of those sent to help
The Associated Press

News of four firefighters dying hit fellow workers hard, including line crew firefighter Jen Kroner. The four died in a crash on Interstate 70 on their way to help with the Hayman fire.  
By Anslee Willett The Gazette

Four firefighters who died Friday in a crash while traveling to the Hayman fire left gaps in the lives of fellow workers who never even knew their names.

"They're really our families, and it's the toughest thing we have to deal with in this business," said Bobby Kitchens, who has been fighting fires with the U.S. Forest Service for 30 years.

The wreck was on Interstate 70 east of Parachute in western Colorado - fewer than 50 miles from the site of a 1994 fire that claimed the lives of nine Oregon firefighters.

The wreck, which critically injured three other firefighters, occurred near a memorial to four firefighters who died in a plane crash while fighting a 1976 fire.

Three firefighters died Monday when an air tanker crashed near Walker, Calif.

Those who died Friday were from Grayback Forestry Inc. of La Grande, Ore., a private contractor that provides Type 1 and Type 2 crews. The group of 11 was traveling with an eight-van convoy of about 65 other firefighters. None of them continued on to the fire 150 miles away.

Instead they met with counselors Saturday and planned to fly home later in the day or today.

About 80 firefighters from the same company were battling the 137,000-acre blaze when the wreck occurred. They were pulled off the fire lines Saturday and offered counseling.

"With fatalities, it's hard to keep your mind focused on the work at hand," Kitchens said.

If other firefighters said they couldn't concentrate, they also would be pulled.Firefighter Shawn Pitkanen of Fort Hall, Idaho, learned of the deaths Saturday. As he took his shoes off outside the mobile showers at the southern fire camp, he paused before saying, "They were coming to help the country. I'll pray for their families."

The driver of the van, firefighter Megan Helm, 21, of La Grande was served a summons Saturday to appear in court on four counts of careless driving causing death and two counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury, all misdemeanors.

About 5:15 p.m., she lost control of the van, and it rolled four times, the Colorado State Patrol said.

"It appears at this time it was just a simple case of momentary distraction," trooper Don Moseman said Saturday.

"We believe she was reaching for a drink and momentarily took her eyes off the road."

Someone in the van yelled, and Helm realized the wheels were off the left side of the road, Moseman said.

Retha Shirley, 19, and Daniel Rama, 28, both of Baker City, Ore., and Jake Martindale, 20, of Boise, Idaho, died.

The fourth victim's name was not released pending notification of family.

The other firefighters who suffered from minor to critical injuries: Patrick Shore, 25, of La Grande; Anthony Kyle of La Grande; Robert Heins, 20, of Burley, Idaho; Brandon Fiala, 20; Bartholomew Balley, 20, of Corvallis, Ore.; and Jason Staten, 20, of Baker City, Ore.

A normally cheerful Tim Evans of the U.S. Forest Service turned somber and soft-spoken when he reflected on the wreck.

"It's going to be a tough day in light of our own not making it here."

During a 6 a.m. briefing, firefighters were told about the wreck.

Many already had heard.

They took off their hats and observed a moment of silence.

Certainly tragic! :'(