YREKA, Calif. — An autopsy performed Tuesday on a Washington firefighter killed Saturday in a wildfire near Happy Camp in Siskiyou County shows that he died as a result of thermal burns and smoke inhalation.
The results of the autopsy were announced Tuesday afternoon by the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department.
Daniel Bruce Packer, 49, of Lake Tapps, Wash., died while scouting the Panther Fire and had sought cover from a fiery blow-over under his personal emergency fire shelter, fire officials have said.
At the time of the incident, Packer, the chief of the East Pierce Fire and Rescue in Bonney Lake, Wash., had been doing reconnaissance of the Panther Fire so his team could take over responsibility for managing the fire the next day.
A U.S. Forest Service fire incident investigation team arrived Monday at the Klamath National Forest to gather information leading up to his death.
Packer’s body is scheduled to be flown home today. A Forest Service DC-3 airplane is due to leave Siskiyou County Airport around noon for a flight to Tacoma Narrows Airport. The Forest Service honor guard, representatives of the Klamath National Forest, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Yreka Volunteer Fire Department will see him off. The body is being accompanied by representatives from East Pierce Fire and Rescue.
Packer was one of two firefighters killed last week while working lightning-caused fires in the north state.
Andrew Jackson Palmer with the Olympic National Park in Washington state died while being flown to the hospital after a tree fell on him.
The 18-year-old Palmer was helping fight the Eagle Fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
As mourning continues for the two men, firefighters on the ground received a lot of support Tuesday from firefighters in the air as improved weather conditions continue to help ground and aerial firefighters working in tandem gain better footholds against a number of wildland fires burning in Trinity County, a fire information spokesman said.
“We’re achieving a higher percentage of containment on a number of fires,” said Pat Kaunert, a spokesman for the Redding area command.
He’s hoping for more of the same today.
Mandatory evacuation orders for Corral Bottom and Haglund Ranch in Trinity County were lifted at noon Tuesday as firefighters continue to battle the Iron Complex fires, which have burned 79,154 acres near Junction City.
That complex is 78 percent contained and will be the topic of a community meeting at 7 p.m. today at Junction City School.
Meanwhile, the 60,561-acre Lime Complex near Hayfork and Hyampom was 75 percent contained on Tuesday.
The improved weather and better visibility, Kaunert said, has allowed an increased use in aerial operations, such as helicopters and air tankers.
“That’s (improved visibility) really helped us out,” he said. “We’re making faster progress.”
With ground crews and pilots in near constant communication, he said, the water drops are landing right where they are needed to help douse the fires and to support the building of containment lines.
“We’ve used the helicopters with a great degree of effectiveness,” he said. “During the last few days we have made very good progress on all the fires.”
Here is a roundup of fires burning in the north state:
• Iron Complex: There are four priority fires: the Eagle Fire was at 22,804 acres and 82 percent contained as of Monday night; the Cedar Fire was at 25,106 acres and 98 percent contained; the Buckhorn Fire was at 12,527 acres and 22 percent contained; and the Carey Fire was at 1,848 acres and 29 percent contained.
• Lime Complex: The Lime Complex has burned 60,561 acres and was 75 percent contained on Tuesday. The Miners Fire was at 23,711 acres and 75 percent contained; the Lime Fire was at 21,718 acres and 50 percent contained.
Hyampom Road remained closed until further notice from about three miles west of the junction with Highway 3 to about two miles west of the junction with Forest Road 10.
• Hell’s Half Complex: The complex has burned 15,146 acres and is 100 percent contained.
The mandatory evacuation for the Dry Lake area has been lifted.
• Yolla Bolly Complex: Four fires on 72,367 acres are 30 percent contained.
The Grouse Fire is at 2,034 acres with zero containment; the Trough Fire is 3,686 acres and 100 percent contained; the Yellow fire is 26,164 acres and 20 percent contained; the Vinegar Fire is at 38,751 acres and 28 percent contained.
• Siskiyou Complex: Fires southwest of Happy Camp have scorched 55,872 acres and are 46 percent contained.
• The Bear Wallow Complex: Two fires in the Marble Mountain Wilderness and Trinity Alps Wilderness have burned 9,054 acres and are zero percent contained.
A 16-mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trial north of the Etna Summit has been closed.
The Trinity Alps Wilderness north of Caribou Lakes has been closed.
• Blue 2 Complex: Fires west of the Siskiyou Complex have burned 5,915 acres and are 30 percent contained.
• Ukonom Complex: Fires near Forks of Salmon have burned 38,089 acres and are 30 percent contained.
• Panther Fire: Fire 15 miles southwest of Happy Camp has burned 2,056 acres and is zero percent contained.