Skip to main content

Liberty Fire Firefighter Death 1989

  • Incident Information:

    Liberty_Fire_Fatality_1989

  • Location:

    Washington

  • Date:

    09/17/1989

  • Incident Type:

    Medical or Exertion

  • Description:

    On September 16, 1989, at 0315 hours, a 20-person handcrew was mobilized from the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to the Liberty Fire on the Wenatchee National Forest. Their first shift on the fire ended at 1915 that evening. The following morning (Sept 17) at 0730, crewmember Ronald C. Nelson visited the IMT's Medical Unit and informed an EMT of chest pain and nausea he had experienced the pervious day. The EMT took vital signs and advised that Nelson rest rather than go with the crew to the fireline. Nelson was discovered deceased in his tent at 1530 on September 17. 

Return to top