Missionary Ridge 2002

At approximately 0955 July 2, 2002, Alan Wyatt reported to the Missionary Ridge Fire from the Million Fire, where he had spent eight days. A faller from Oregon, Wyatt was assigned to Division P of Missionary Ridge East. He arrived at the assigned location between 1500-1600 hours. Prior to this time, strong winds began moving through the area, and all firefighters were pulled off the line into a safety zone. Approximately one hour after the winds subsided, Wyatt and two other cutters were assigned to fell trees. A nearby skidgen operator working with Wyatt saw a previously straight aspen tree begin to lean, and then fall in his vicinity at around 1735. Wyatt was struck and killed instantly with blunt force trauma. A subsequent inspection of the fallen aspen tree revealed fire damage to its root system. No wind was reported at the time of the accident.