SPOKANE, Wash. — A U.S. Forest Service firefighter is receiving care at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane he was struck by a tree fighting a wildfire in the Nez Perce National Forest on Saturday.
The injured firefighter, who hasn’t been named, was a part of the initial attack on a new fire late Saturday evening when he was hit by the tree.
Firefighters call the fire the Coffee Can Saddle Fire. It’s burning in the Salmon River Ranger District, which covers an area north of Riggins and south of White Bird. It’s a small fire that isn’t threatening any structures.
The firefighter was first airlifted to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before he was flown to Sacred Heart where he remained as of Monday morning.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured firefighter, as well as their affected family, friends and co-workers,” the forest service said in a release.
The release said additional information, including the extent of the firefighter’s injuries, wasn’t available as of Monday morning.
