Strawberry Fire Tree Strike Fatality 2016

The lightning-caused Strawberry Fire was reported August 8, 2016, in Great Basin National Park in Nevada. Over the next two days, fire behavior dramatically increased and the fire grew to several thousand acres. Resources, including the Lolo Interagency Hotshot Crew, arrived on the fire to limit the fire's spread west further in the Park. On August 13, hotshot sawyer Justin Beebe was cutting a large snag, "stepping" the tree down as it was supported by another tree, preventing it from freely falling. During the falling sequence, the tree pivoted and the upper portion fell and struck Beebe, who was escaping from his cutting position. Beebe was treated by multiple EMTs soon after his injury, and was ultimately lifted from the scene by agency short haul helicopter. After landing, Beebe was pronounced deceased by air ambulance personnel in consultation with an ER physician. 

Falling Operation, Hand Crews, Fatality, Medevac, Hit by Tree