7/26/2008 1:11:00 PM Memorial service is Monday for fallen firefighter Andy J. Palmer
Andy Palmer was excited about his summer job as a National Park Service firefighter. Andy graduated June 12 with the Port Townsend High School Class of 2008. - Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Tribute to a fallen firefighter
The Redding Record Searchlight newspaper has extensive coverage of the Northern California fires. The website (www.reddingcom) includes postings from website readers. As of Saturday evening, here are a few of the postings connected to the story on Andy Palmer's death, found at www.redding.com/news/2008/jul/26/firefighter/
-- If you have a flag, lower it. If there is memorial account set up, contribute to it. If there is a public vigil or service, attend it. If you have a son or daughter, cherish them especially... In honor of Andrew Jackson Palmer, AMERICAN HERO. My most sincere condolences to the family and friends of this brave young man. Please be comforted by prayers and the deepest gratitude from throughout the North State.
-- To the family and friends of Andrew. We are so sorry for your loss. We here in the North State grieve with you. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.
-- Not only do these firefighters have to deal with fighting fire in 90 to 110 degree heat, but they are also challenged with exploding trees, rolling boulders, rattlesnakes, exposure to poison oak and related smoke, and... I read on the Wildlandfirefighter blog, that they had also the danger of exploding bullets from old rancher and miner weapons caches. One posting stated that so many bullets in the forest were exploding at night that it was hard to sleep. Then there are the long term health effects of breathing the noxious smoke. There are tires and meth labs, and other chemicals burning out there - not just the trees. I've been astounded at how young so many of these firefighters are. I personally made up a "thank you, firefighters" sign and put it on my car. I'm amazed that more signs of thanks aren't visible around Shasta County. Those kids really are heroes. We send a prayer and blessings to Andrew's family.
- My daughter is one of Andy's close friends, since they were little, and is struggling with believing this has happened. Andy was one of a kind and has many friends who love him. Please keep saying your prayers for his family and friends... this loss and pain will be very hard to overcome. My belief is that everyone on the scene did whatever they could to care for and comfort Andy as they tried to save him. Just as we all would if put in that situation. Thank you to all the people involved and please take care and be careful to those that continue this dangerous work.
-- My sincere condolence's to Andrew's family, friend's and co-workers... thank you Andrew for your undaunted bravery, thank you to all the other fire personnel helping us during our time of crisis... God speed to all those touched by this tragic news...
By Patrick J. Sullivan
A public memorial service is 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 4 at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park for Andy J. Palmer, who died July 25 on duty as a wildland firefighter in Northern California.
The youngest son of Dr. Robert and Janet Palmer graduated with the Port Townsend High School Class of 2008. He was going to study mechanical engineering this fall at Montana State University in Bozeman.
Those who knew Andy remember him as both easy-going and out-going, and a dedicated football player for the PTHS Redskins. He was excited about his summer job with the firefighting crew.
"Andy's loss I think is felt equally in Port Angeles and Port Townsend," said his mother. The family raised two sons in Port Angeles, and moved to Port Townsend when Andy started ninth grade.
"He was extremely happy," father Bob said, and he had a huge group of friends.
"If there was a word for this kid, it would be integrity," said his mother.
Palmer, 18, began a summer job last month as a firefighter with the National Park Service's Engine 701 crew based in Port Angeles. Palmer's four-person crew was dispatched Tuesday, July 22 to the Eagle fire, part of the Iron Complex fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Lightning apparently caused the blaze on June 21. Friday, July 25 was their first day on the fire line.
According to unofficial reports, the crew was working along a bulldozed fire line about 2,000 feet from a road. They were along the southwest flank of the Eagle Fire near Junction City, but were not in an active fire zone. The crew's job was to "snag hazard trees" in advance of ground crews doing fire mop-up duty.
The family has been told that Andy was in a safety zone. A tree was cut downhill from his position. It slid downhill and springboarded into another tree, which caused a third tree to flip back uphill. That flying object struck Palmer.
The accident occurred about 2:20 p.m. Friday. Andy received emergency first aid at the scene, and was hoisted into a rescue basket lowered by a U.S. Coast Guard medivac helicopter. The accident scene was about 50 air miles west of Redding, Calif.
Andy died about 5:10 p.m. aboard the helicopter, according to a Shasta-Trinity National Forest official.
"Each and every member of the firefighting community feels a tragedy of this type," said Shasta-Trinity National Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood, as reported by Constance Dillon of the Redding Record Searchlight. "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Andrew, who selflessly served to protect," she said.
The Trinity County coroner's office will determine the cause of death, Booth reported. The Forest Service and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have assembled an accident investigation board to report on Palmer's death.
"Andy 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," Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin said.
In a later press release, Gustin said, "We mourn Andy's death and offer our support and deepest condolences to his family."
An accident investigation team is being assembled and will be co-led by National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service personnel.
The rest of Palmer's crew returned to Olympic National Park earlier Saturday. A critical incident stress management team will arrive in the park tomorrow to provide support and assistance to the park's fire crew and staff.
In honor and memory of Andy Palmer's life, flags in all National Park Service areas throughout the six-state Pacific West Region will fly at half staff until further notice.
A fund will be established by the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Palmer's name. The foundation is online at http://wffoundation.org/ and can be contacted by calling 877-336-2950.
The family is starting a memorial scholarship fund through the Port Townsend Education Foundation. Look for details in Wednesday's Leader.
The Redding Record Searchlight reported that the chief of the U.S. Forest Service, Abigail Kimbell, on a visit to Redding Saturday, was visibly shaken by Palmer's death. She praised his courage and that of other firefighters battling California's unprecedented wildland fires.
Washington lost both a rookie firefighter and a veteran. Daniel Packer, 49, of Lake Tapps, Wash., died Saturday while working on the Panther Fire south of Happy Camp in Siskiyou County. Packer, who was scouting a fire scene when the wind changed and he could not escape the flames, is immediate past president of the Washington Fire Chiefs Association.
Reader Comments
Posted: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Article comment by:
Barbara Houshmand
We were neighbors of the Palmers in Port Angeles. They are a wonderful family. Janet and Bob brought their boys up to be thoughtful and responsible young men. We admired them then and do now.
Our hearts go out to the Palmer family. Stay strong.
Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008
Article comment by:
Roger Miles
The kid I always looked up to. I feel so privilaged to have known such a great young man. My deepest condolences go out to the Palmer family. Andy, may you rest in peace.
Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008
Article comment by:
Karen Petersen
My heart goes out to the family of Andrew. Both my husband and I cried today for Andy's mom and dad. Our son is in his third season with CalFire and is currently up in the same general area as an EMT/firefighter. As all firefighters are extended family, we also are deeply saddened for the loss of a "fellow" son. We will be praying for the Palmer family and the family of the second firefighter who was killed today.
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