Aug. 1, 2013
Two members of a falling crew working on a fire in the Mt. Washington Wilderness near Dugout Lake on the Sisters Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest were injured by a falling snag early today. One of the individuals died at the scene and the other was transported with injuries to St. Charles Medical Center.
The injuries occurred as the tree fallers worked to suppress a fire caused by a lightning storm, which began early yesterday afternoon and continued through the evening. The injury was reported at 9:13 a.m.
The fallers worked for R&K Water Services out of Bonney Lake, WA.
Rappel crews and a helicopter responded to the accident and called for an ambulance. Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of the accident at this time.
Media can meet public information officers at the junction of Forest Road 242 and Forest Road 1029.
More information will be forthcoming as available.
[Information from Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center]