Clover Mist Tree Fatality 1988

Edward Hutton was a crewmember of a 19-person crew assigned to the Clover Mist Fire, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. On October 11, 1988, the crew was assigned to mop up an edge of the fire along a ridge. At approximately 1030, three members of the crew, including Hutton, were working a hot spot that they determined needed bucket drops. A Bell 212 helicopter arrived to drop on the spot and made two drops at 1100 and 1110, the second of which coincided with a snag falling and striking Hutton. The bucket helicopter was also the designated medevac transport, and so flew to helibase and disconnected its bucket and picked up two EMTs. The helicopter picked up Hutton and transported him to Cody, where he was pronounced dead.