REDDING, Calif. --
Olympic National Park firefighter Andrew Palmer was killed fighting a fire in northern California Friday.
Eighteen year old Palmer, a National Park Service firefighter, was assigned to the Eagle Fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The investigation into what happened continues.
Mike Odle of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Friday night that Palmer "suffered injuries from what sounds like an incident with a tree." Investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding Palmer's death.
He was being transported by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter to a hospital in Redding, California to be treated for multiple injuries. He was pronounced dead while enroute to the hospital 50 miles away.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew, who selfllessly served to protect," said Shasta-Trinity National Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood in a press release.
Word reached Palmer's co-workers at the Olympic National Park in Washington state late Friday.
Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin says, "Andry was a dedicated and energetic firefighter who loved his job. We are all very sad, and our thoughts are with his family and the rest of the firefighters on this fire. The Eagle Fire at Iron Complex started on June 21st, according to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest website. It was one of many fires started during a lightning storm, said Odle.
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Funeral Information
A memorial service is planned for Firefighter Palmer on Monday, Aug. 4 at Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend.
