Lake Samish Fire Hit by Tree Fatality 1929

Clarence Hutton and Frank Arnold were struck when the top of a snag broke and fell while they helped to suppress the Lake Samish Fire near Bellingham, Washington. This fire had been burning in logging slash on private timber land for multiple days. The snag that hit Hutton and Arnold had been identified and was noticed to be burned, but was believed to be sound and capable of standing for some time. Suddenly, on August 13 at 0300 hours, the snag broke 40 feet up and fell and hit these two men. Hutton received a spinal and leg fracture and was killed instantly. Arnold received deep leg contusions and was hospitalized after a difficult and extended carry-out over slash and downed logs.  

Hit by Tree, Fatality