Twisp River Fire Memorial: FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL UPDATE 8/25/15

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL UPDATE 8/25/15

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, USDA Forest Service

Issue #3

The U. S. Forest Service will host a memorial to honor firefighters Richard Wheeler, Andrew Zajac, and Tom Zbyszewski, who died in the line of duty last week while assigned to the Twisp River Fire. The memorial will be at 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 30, 2015. It will be at the Town Toyota Center, 1300 Walla Walla Avenue, in Wenatchee, WA. Once family members and agency personnel have been seated, the public will be seated as space allows.

Media representatives are invited to attend. Media should call 458-202-1101 to confirm participation.

A Prayer for the Wildland Firefighters

Bless these men and women who risk their lives,

Who come together, one team united,

To fight the blazing fires.

A valued and respected group of soldiers,

They’re not fighting people…

No governments, no nations.

They’re fighting worthy battles,

They’re fighting Wildland Fires.

Many go out to fight the blaze

Knowing fully well the risks involved in these battles across the nations.

Glad when they can come back home, but with heavy hearts remembering the times when there are few who don’t.

So here’s to those of many colors, who wear the yellow and green.

Give them the strength and knowledge,

the endurance that they need to continue

the fight of wildfires.

May they return again, home to me.

CHIEF TOM TIDWELL

It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the news that we lost three firefighters Wednesday afternoon battling the Twisp Fire on state forest land in Washington. The firefighters were members of an engine crew from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest who were involved in initial attack operations when the fire overwhelmed their vehicle. Three additional firefighters were injured; one Forest Service member with life threatening injuries, and two Department of Natural Resource firefighters who are still fighting to recover.

Our agency has been hit hard this year. There is no way to overstate the impact of losing so many of our people within such a short time.

My thoughts are with the families and friends of those who died, and I will keep those still fighting for their lives in my thoughts and prayers, as well. I hope you will do the same.

We will face many more challenges this fire season. Let’s continue to look out and care for each other.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL UPDATE 8/25/15

Richard Wheeler

Donations in Richard's Name

Tom Zbyszewski

Donations in Tom's Name

Andrew Zajac

Donations in Andrew's Name

Daniel Lyon - Injured

Donations in Daniel's Name

Richard Wheeler

Andrew Zajac

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Tom Zbyszewski