Sheriffs in Oregon and Montana identify pilot
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Wasco County Sheriff’s Office Release 08/26/20
On August 24, 2020 a pilot flying a Type 1 K-MAX helicopter died while conducting bucket drops while fighting the White River Fire on Mt. Hood National Forest.
Thomas Duffy, a 40 year old male, of Bozeman, Montana, was flying for a contracted company supporting the U.S. Forest Service’s fire suppression efforts on the forest.
Next of kin notifications have been completed.
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas Duffy.
The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with the Office of Sheriff, Gallatin County, Montana. Attached is their press release and a photo regarding Thomas Duffy.
We have also been in contact with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Bosie, ID. The Wildland Firefighter Foundation also made the following statement:
“Wildland Firefighter Foundation’s main focus is to help families of firefighters killed in the line of duty and to assist injured firefighters and their families. We honor and acknowledge past, present, and future members of the wildland firefighting community, and partner with private and interagency organizations to bring recognition to wildland firefighters.
Wildland firefighters represent the diversity of the land they protect. They are federal, state and local firefighters, private sector firefighters, interface firefighters, and volunteers from rural communities and towns across the United States.
The WFF has been intimately involved with the Duffy Family through this traumatic experience. Under a Contractor situation protocol and resources are very different and the Foundation strives to step in and fill those voids. We have been helping assist with Honor Watch. We have been assisting along with the Agency for family involvement. We've been working directly with Funeral Homes in both Oregon and Montana ensuring the correct paperwork is in place. We've basically been connecting the dots for everyone involved.” Director Burke Minor, WFFoundation.org
The investigation continues by our federal partners into the cause of this crash.
Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office Release
(Gallatin County, Mont.)
It is with great sadness that Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office announces that Tom Duffy, a Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter pilot, was killed in a firefighting accident in Oregon Monday. He was conducting bucket drops on the White Fire to help firefighters battle the blaze, which was burning in rough terrain in Mt Hood National Forest.
Tom is the third generation of the Duffy family to fly rescue missions for SAR. He has flown SAR rescue missions for 20 years and his most recent missions was on Aug 15, when he flew 3 times for the GCSAR helicopter team. Tom was a world-class rescue pilot who instilled confidence in SAR volunteers on every mission. He was a big man with a big heart who brought calm and skill to every mission.
When God opened a door, Tom walked through it, which led him to many adventures and skills. In addition to flying, he was a husband, father, business owner, and church member. He went big in everything he did and will be deeply missed in the GCSAR community and beyond.
Helicopter accident
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Green Ridge Fire Update September 1
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Camp Sherman, Ore. – Oregon Department of Forestry’s Type 1 Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Link Smith, will hand the fire over to a smaller Type 4 organization tomorrow morning. The Team would like to again thank the communities in the area for their kind hospitality and support during our stay.
Green Ridge Fire Update for August 31
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Smoke Outlook August 30
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Smoke Outlook for 8/30 - 8/31 North Central Oregon Issued at: 2020-08-30 07:53 PDT (see attached)
Fire Large wind-driven runs were observed on wildfires yesterday as dry air and high winds moved into the area. Today, cooler air and lighter winds will moderate fire spread and result in creeping and occasional tree torching fire behavior on the Lionshead and White River fires. Even cooler temperatures and increasing relative humidity arrive tomorrow as a second weak cold front moves into the area. This should moderate fire intensity even more. No precipitation is expected. A return to warmer and drier conditions Tuesday through the end of the week.
Smoke Yesterday's cold front passage brought with it hours of high winds which scoured smoke out of most of the forecast area. These winds also increased fire growth, and that smoke lofted to the southeast and surfaced in the southeast portion of the forecast area, where unhealthy levels of smoke were recorded overnight in the town of Burns. Air quality should improve to "good" in Burns today as west to northwest winds move smoke out of that area. Air quality modeling shows smoke impacts to be mostly local and southeast of the wildfires. Periods of light smoke can be anticipated elsewhere.
Daily AQI Forecast for Aug 30, 2020 *
Yesterday Sat Forecast Sun Mon Station hourly 8/29 Comment for Today Sun, Aug 30 8/30 8/31
Madras
Redmond
Sisters
Prineville
Bend
La Pine
John Day
Burns
Issued by USFS Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program www.wildlandfiresmoke.net
North Central Oregon Current Outlook tools.airfire.org/outlooks/northcentraloregon Smoke and Health Info www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=smoke.index *
Good None
Moderate Unusually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion.
USG People within Sensitive Groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy People within Sensitive Groups should avoid all physical outdoor activity.
Very Unhealthy Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Good air quality this morning moving into moderate this afternoon.
Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon.
Good air quality this morning moving into moderate this afternoon.
Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon.
Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon.
Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon.
Good air quality this morning with periods of light smoke this afternoon.
Moderate air quality this morning improving throughout the day.
Green Ridge Fire Update August 30
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Green Ridge Fire Update August 30
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Camp Sherman, Ore. – Containment lines surrounding the Green Ridge Fire passed the wind test Saturday afternoon, holding the fire in place with no reported spot fires. The fire remains 4,338 acres in size and is now 60 percent contained. The forecasted Red Flag Warning produced sustained winds up to 18 mph and gusts of 25 mph, but had little effect on the fire. Twenty-one 20-person fire crews will continue to grid for and mop up hot spots as much as 75 feet into the fire’s perimeter.
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