ID Wildland Firefighter Dies of Heart Attack Days after Training

An Idaho wildland firefighter who managed a national forest air base died nearly a week after suffering a heart attack during training earlier this summer.

Firefighter Eric R. Ellis, the manager of Salmon Airbase in Salmon-Challis National Forest, was participating in mandated physical fitness training on May 15 when he complained of numbness in his left arm, according to the U.S. Fire Association. The next day, Ellis, 45, was admitted to the hospital to treat a heart condition, and he died May 21 from an apparent heart attack.

In an alert sent Tuesday, the USFA said it had determined that Ellis' passing was a line-of-duty death. 

"It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to a friend and base manager, Eric Ellis. …The passing of Eric is dearly felt by his family, friends and those lucky enough to have had the good fortune to work with him," a statement said on the website of the air base, which is the home of the aerial firefighting Salmon Heli-Rappelers and National Rappel Program’s academy.

Ellis is survived by wife, Stephanie, and two sons, 8 and 3. A GoFundMe campaign—spearheaded by the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and Salmon Heli-Rappelers—has been set up to help the family, and as of early Tuesday afternoon, it had earned more than $54,000, well-exceeding the campaign's goal of $10,000.

A memorial service will be held for Ellis later this fall, the GoFundMe page stated.