A firefighter working to put out the Lolo Peak fire in western Montana is dead after being hit by a falling tree.
“Firefighting is a risky business,” said Captain Ed Dunbar of Benton County Fire District 4, “But we take controlled risks. Keeping firefighters alive is all about training.”
Area firefighters learn to be aware of their surroundings--trees, tripping hazards, and the wind--but, he said, “fires are unpredictable. We've had two firefighter deaths locally that have impacted us over the last few years. It devastates the departments.”
Firefighters face risks like heat stroke and cardiac problems from the intense physical work, which can do terrible things to their bodies.
This is why, Dunbar said, they take extra precautions in extreme conditions.