Helena Hotshot died in a vehicle accident

Sarah Madsen (U.S. Forest Service – Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Facebook)

Wildland Firefighter

MISSOULA, Montana – The U.S. Forest Service has reported that a firefighter from the Helena Hotshot crew, Sarah Madsen, died in a vehicle accident returning home from a fire assignment.

The following was posted to the U.S. Forest Service – Caribou -Targhee National Forest Facebook page:

“Yesterday, we tragically lost a member of our firefighting and forest service family in a vehicle accident as she returned home from a fire assignment. Nothing is so devastating and tragic as losing a family member, a loved one, a friend, or a close colleague.

The heartbreak is often compounded when that precious life is lost at such a young age. Sara Madsen was an incredible person with a vivacious personality and a love for the outdoors. She began working in natural resources in our very own Teton Valley as a Youth Conservation Corp member, later moving into the fire program where she served as a crewmember on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest’s Centennial Type II Initial Attack Hand Crew from 2017-2019.

2020 was her first year as part of the Helena Hot Shot crew with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Our firefighting community is heartbroken over this tragic loss and our condolences go out to Sara’s family, friends and coworkers. #Neverforgotten”