Firefighter Dies Battling Wildfire in Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon

The unidentified contract firefighter was involved in the operation at the Austin Fire that has burned more than 12,000 acres.

Sophia Cossette

oregonlive.com

(TNS)

A firefighter has died from injuries sustained while battling the Austin fire south of Mount Hood, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The firefighter was hurt Wednesday while suppressing the blaze in the Mount Hood National Forest, officials said. They were given immediate medical treatment and taken to a nearby hospital, where they died from their injuries.

“We extend our sincere condolences to the fallen firefighter’s family, friends, and colleagues,” the agency said. “The U.S. Forest Service is working in coordination with the fallen firefighter’s family and company they were working with at the time.”

The incident will be investigated, according to the Forest Service. The agency has not released the firefighter’s identity.

The Austin fire has burned over 12,000 acres in Mount Hood National Forest southeast of Estacada since breaking out more than a month ago.

The blaze is currently 36% contained, and Level 3 (go now) evacuation orders have been issued for areas close to the fire in Clackamas County.

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

This piece was created with the help of generative AI tools and edited by our content team for clarity and accuracy.
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