The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Wildlife Biologist/Wildland Firefighter Angela Nicole Chadwick-Hawkins, 45, of the U.S. Army, Environmental Division/Wildland Fire Program on May 22, 2019.
On 5/22/19, Fort Jackson Environmental Division personnel initiated a 424 acre prescribed fire operation for wildlife habitat improvements and fuel management. During the prescribed burn, Wildlife Biologist and Certified Wildland Firefighter, Angela “Nicole” Chadwick-Hawkins was assigned a ground ignition operation, utilizing an All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) to conduct the task. At some point while conducting her assigned duties, personnel lost radio contact with Ms. Hawkins. A search of her last known location was conducted during which Ms. Hawkins’ body was found. At approximately 1230hrs, Fort Jackson Fire Department units were dispatched along with Moncrief Army EMS and Fort Jackson Military Police. Upon arrival, emergency personnel determined that Ms. Hawkins sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased by medical personnel. Additional details are pending the completion of investigative processes by the Army Criminal Investigation Division with support and assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as well as the US Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center Accident Investigation Team.
Tribute is being paid to Wildlife Biologist/Wildland Firefighter Chadwick-Hawkins at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/
To date, 26 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2019. 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.
