Lonoak Fire Entrapment Fatality 1943

Ralph Morton, a 14-year-old high school student from Pacific Grove, was part of a crew sent to fight a grass and brush fire in Monterey County where he was entrapped and suffered fatal burn injuries. Morton reportedly became separated from the rest of the crew and surrounded by fire in a sudden wind shift in the flashy fuels. He was taken from the scene of the accident to the hospital in King City, where he passed away the following day. Due to severe workforce shortages during World War II, very young people were used in firefighting service in this period. Morton was assigned to the California Department of Forestry (now CAL FIRE) station at Bitterwater. 

Entrapment, Fatality, Burn Injury