Mabel Fire Hit by Tree Fatalities 1929

A group of five firefighters, including John H. McCubbins and Alvin Peoples, were constructing hand line at night on the Mabel Fire, northeast of Eugene, Oregon. A group a firefighters nearby called the five to warn them of a comprised, burning tree, but the tree fell on the group, injuring all of them. McCubbins died on the scene shortly after. Alvin Peoples left the fireline after the tree strike and drove alone to his home in Eugene, where he was discovered deceased the following day. An examination of Peoples' body revealed that he had suffered an undetected skull fracture in the tree strike incident.

Hit by Tree, Fatality, Hand Crews