WINTHROP, Wash – The U.S. Forest Service urged people Friday to mark the 25 year anniversary of one of the worst firefighting disasters in Washington history.
July 10, 2001, four firefighters died battling the Thirtymile Fire north of Winthrop.
Flames overcame the fire crew, trapping 14 firefighters and two campers. Most were able to find shelter and escape the flames.
Four firefighters remained on a rocky area where they deployed their fire shelters; all four of them died from asphyxia.
Tom Craven was from Ellensburg. Devin Weaver, Jessica Johnson and Karen Fitzpatrick were from the Yakima area.
The Thirtymile Fire started from a campfire that wasn’t properly extinguished.
The man in charge of the fire crews that day was charged in federal court with manslaughter, with prosecutors saying he was grossly negligent for not having a safety plan and for lying to investigators.
Ellreese Daniels eventually pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of lying to investigators.
A stone memorial wall marks the spot where the firefighters died.
“Today we pause to honor and recommit to the continuous organizational learning that we strive for—evolving our firefighting, communication, and safety strategies while also enhancing community awareness of wildfire risks,” said the U.S. Forest Service Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest on social media.
“We continue to remember Jessica Johnson, Devin Weaver, Karen Fitzpatrick and Tom Craven not only for the gifts they shared with us during their lives, but also for the heavy sense of loss we still feel from their passing.”
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