Dozer operator dies while battling Carr Fire
The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Firefighter/Bulldozer Operator Don R. Smith, 81, of CAL FIRE on July 27, 2018.
Firefighter/Bulldozer Operator Don Smith was operating his bulldozer while battling the Carr Fire in Northern California’s Shasta County when he was overtaken by flames. Smith’s body was found by emergency personnel in the area of Benson Drive and Rock Creek Road in Redding, California. The nature and cause of fatal injury are still to be reported.
Tribute is being paid to Firefighter/Bulldozer Operator Smith at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
To date, 58 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html
Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.
