Bear Creek Fire Hit by Limb Fatality 1940

William DeAvilla, a fire crew leader with the Klamath National Forest, was killed by a falling limb from a lightning-struck tree on the Bear Creek Fire in the Siskiyou Mountains. DeAvilla and two other firefighters were working to fall the burning, lightning-struck tree when a limb fell out of the tree from 75 feet up. The limb was 14 feet long and six inches in diameter. One of the firefighters gave a warning shout, but DeAvilla was unable to avoid the limb and was struck on the back of the head. One firefighter remained with the unconscious DeAvilla while the other trekked several miles to the Donomore Cabin telephone. The Klamath National Forest Headquarters arranged an ambulance to wait at the nearest road, and organized a crew of ten loggers to assist carrying the injured man the four miles to the ambulance by stretcher. DeAvilla was still alive when he was admitted to the hospital in Yreka, where he underwent surgery and lived for 24 hours before passing away at 1950 on July 21.

Hit by Tree, Fatality, Initial Attack, Falling Operation, Hand Crews