Walton Spur Fire Fatalities 1949

On August 24, 1949, two incidents occurred on the Walton Spur Fire on the Stanislaus National Forest, California, that resulted in fatalities. The fire, also called the Jawbone Fire, eventually burned around 7000 acres. 

Harry Meyer, a shingle mill and tree nursery operator in Groveland, passed away shortly after being hit by a falling snag. Another firefighter was injured by limbs from the tree that killed Meyer. Meyer was reportedly on the fireline for 24 hours straight, felling snags along the line. The snag he was cutting was on fire on the top, and broke as he was in the process of cutting it with a chainsaw.

Archie Selby, a local logger, was entrapped in a gully and received burn severe injuries. Selby was pulled out of the area by four fellow firefighters who suffered minor burns in his rescue. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. 

Multiple, Fatality, Burn Injury, Hand Crews, Medevac, Multi Incident Summary, Falling Operation