Mabel Fire Hit by Tree Fatalities 1929

On September 12, 1929, a group of five firefighters, including John H. McCubbins and Alvin Peoples, were constructing handline at night on the Mabel Fire, northeast of Eugene, Oregon. Another group of firefighters nearby these five called to warn them of a compromised burning tree. Even so, this tree fell on the group, injuring all of them. Shortly after this tree strike, McCubbins died on scene. Alvin Peoples left the fireline after the tree strike. He drove alone to his home in Eugene, where he was discovered deceased the following day. An examination of Peoples' body revealed that he had received an undetected skull fracture in the tree strike incident.

Hit by Tree, Fatality, Hand Crews