A bulldozer operator who died helping battle a wildfire raging in the Big Sur area was identified as a 35-year-old Fresno County father of two children, officials said Thursday afternoon.
Robert Reagan III, a privately contracted heavy-equipment operator from the Sierra foothills town of Friant, died after rolling his earthmover in a remote area while helping fight the Soberanes Fire in Monterey County, officials said.
“Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with Robert’s family, friends and firefighting community as they navigate through this difficult time,” Cal Fire, the state’s firefighting agency, said in a statement.
Reagan is survived by his wife and two young daughters. Relatives have established a Gofundme page online to raise money to help his family. Nearly $30,000 in donations had been made to the family by Thursday afternoon.