Two members of a wildland handcrew were killed in a fire apparatus crash in Blaine Saturday afternoon. Four others were injured in the crash.
The vehicle was southbound on Interstate 35W when it left the roadway. The vehicle struck a cable barrier and rolled over, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The body was broken apart from the chassis.
The firefighters were from the Beartown Fire Department in Baraga, MI, situated in the Upper Peninsula, according to KSTP-TV. Beartown firefighters are a Type 2 wildland handcrew managed by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Alan J. Swartz, 25, and James F. Shelifoe, 23, both of Baraga, MI were killed in the crash, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Four of the injured are from Baraga, MI, including driver Ross J. Jaukkuri, 33; Michael A. Johnson, 29; Gavin C. Loonsfoot; 34, and Dave R. Varline, 26. Joseph Jossens of Michigan; Shashaywin D. Sandman Shelifoe, 29, of Minnesota; and Tyler J. Tolonen, 26, of Menomonee Falls, WI, were also injured in the crash and all are expected to recover.
The accident happened Southbound on Interstate 35W at 95th Avenue around 3 p.m. CST., and investigators still are trying to determine what caused the truck to leave the interstate.
Beartown firefighters are a Type 2 wildland handcrew managed by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Tribal leaders said the crew was headed to the Box Canyon Fire in Utah, according to KARE-TV.
According to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, 11 other firefighters were in a convoy and were separated for a brief time.
"Those firefighters are understandably shaken are getting much needed support from local agencies," the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community said in a statement Sunday night.
Following the crash, they posted: "The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community learned this evening that our Beartown Firefighting crew was involved in a tragic traffic accident. Two of our fire fighters were killed and several others were severely injured. Our hearts are broken and our prayers are with the family members and those injured. We are continuing to gather information on the condition of each and every fire fighter who was sent to the Box Canyon fire."
Another Facebook post stated that the Baraga Fire Department will be conducting a "Fill the Boot" campaign from Monday at Eagle Radio in Baraga. The L'Anse Fire Department will also host a fundraising event at their station.
