Assistant chief contracted COVID-19 while on a wildfire assignment

United States Fire Administration

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Assistant Fire Chief Charles “Chuck” Edward Scottini, 67, of Laramie County Fire District #2 on April 24, 2021.

In October of 2020, while on a wildland fire assignment in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Assistant Fire Chief Charles “Chuck” Edward Scottini contracted COVID-19. He was flown to the University of Utah Hospital for treatment and remained there until last Wednesday evening, April 21, 2021, when he returned to Wyoming and was in hospice care. Assistant Fire Chief Scottini passed away from the virus early Saturday morning, April 24, 2021, with his family by his side.

Tribute is being paid to Assistant Chief Scottini at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/

To date, 41 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2021. 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.