Sleeping Child Fire Medical Emergency Fatalities 1961

Three fatalities were reported on the 26,000-acre Sleeping Child Fire on the Bitterroot National Forest in southwestern Montana. Limited information is readily available on any of the firefighters who succumbed to medical emergencies. 

John Roberts died of an apparent heart attack before reaching the fireline on August 8, 1961.

Max Moffett, a 19-year-old firefighter, was found dead in his sleeping bag on August 11, at the Moose Meadows fire camp. 

LaVerne Clifford, Crew Leader, died of an unspecified illness while traveling home on a Forest Service-chartered aircraft on August 13. 

Medical or Exertion or Heat, Fatality, Medical Emergency, Multi Incident Summary