A firefighter from Red Bluff, California, was killed Friday by a falling tree, according to reports.
Darin Banks, 26, was assigned to a Type II Initial Attack Hand Crew working with Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, Inc. to prepare an area for prescribed burning in Tuolumne County, according to KRCR.
“Darin was 26 years-old and loved by many,” the company said in a post on social media. “He leaves behind his four-year-old son, mother, siblings, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Our hearts go out to all who knew and loved Darin, and we ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow.”
According to the Associated Press, almost 2,000 square miles have burned so far this year in the United States, with 2018 being the last time this much fire had been reported at this point, per National Interagency Fire Center numbers. Among the major fires is a massive wildland fire in New Mexico that has been menacing the town of Las Vegas northeast of Santa Fe; the fire has burned 300 structures thus far and more than 20,000 structures are still considered threatened.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration notification, on Friday, May 6, 2022, Wildland Firefighter Darin Banks was assigned to a Type II Initial Attack Hand Crew working to prepare an area for a prescribed burning in Tuolumne County. While working the area, he was hit by a dead tree that fell. He was transported down the hill to the medics where CPR was performed. All life-saving measures were unsuccessful and he was pronounced deceased.
