Routt National Forest Hit by Tree Fatality 1991

Kevin Doyle Keel, a US Forest Service firefighter from Tennessee, was hit by a tree and suffered fatal injuries on a small initial attack fire on the Routt National Forest, Colorado. Routt and a squad boss were sent to initial attack a 1/4 acre fire on September 18. The two firefighters contained the fire at around 2300 hrs that night, and took a break. Shortly after, a tree fell and struck Keel in the chest. The squad boss was unable to contact anyone via radio, and left to get help. By the time the squad boss returned after contacting hunters and sending them to for help, Keel had succumbed to his injuries early in the morning of September 19. It was noted that the fire occurred in an area of forest impacted by pine beetles, leaving standing dead trees.