MN Flags Lowered for Funeral of Firefighter Killed in ID Controlled Burn

A 26-year-old Minnesota wildland firefighter died last week during a prescribed burn in Idaho, prompting Gov. Tim Walz to order flags to fly at half staff from sunrise to sunset Saturday.

All U.S. flags and state flags on state buildings will honor and remember Isabella “Bella” Grace Oscarson, who died in the line of duty on Sept. 26 while working as a seasonal Idaho Department of Lands firefighter.

“Bella Oscarson dedicated her life to protecting people and nature as a wildland firefighter,” Walz said in a statement. “Her courage, service, and compassion touched lives across Minnesota, Idaho, and beyond. Gwen and I extend our deepest condolences to her parents, her partner Matt, her siblings Anarosa, Jacob, and Sophia, as well as her family, colleagues, and friends.”

According to an Idaho Department of Lands Facebook post, Oscarson died after being struck by a falling tree while helping with the U.S. Forest Service’s Tinker Bugs prescribed fire in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.

“IDL extends its deepest sympathies to Isabella’s family and friends. This is a tragedy that hits the employees at Idaho Department of Lands and the broader wildland fire community extremely hard,” said Dustin Miller, Director of IDL. “We are heartbroken and doing everything we can to support her family and our staff during this difficult time.”

According to the governor’s office, in addition to working in Idaho, Oscarson worked for the Minnesota Conservation Corps and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“Beyond her work, Bella loved spending time outdoors, cooking, crafting, gardening, reading, and dancing with her family and friends,” the governor’s office said.

She graduated from high school in Watertown, Minnesota, in 2017. She and her husband, Matt, moved to Stites, Idaho, in early 2025.

Individuals, businesses and other organizations also are encouraged to lower their flags.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Church of St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony.

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