Hero

One of my Deputy Chiefs shared this heartbreaking information about one of the fatalities that occurred on the Carr Fire in Redding, California. Redding Fire Inspector Jeremy Stokes was killed while sitting in his Ford F150 pick-up when a fire tornado burned over his location. At the time, he was working in a subdivision, trying to evacuate residents who had not complied with the initial evacuation order. Stokes sent out a mayday reporting that he was about to be burned over, but his transmission was cut off and never regained. Reports and data reviewed from the incident indicate that the fire tornado was over 300 yards wide at the base. Stokes was killed by the traumatic injuries he sustained when his truck was picked up and thrown over 200 feet from where it was originally parked. 

The report goes on to say we are experiencing fire that is burning hotter, faster and with more explosive energy than previously recorded.  It is a bad year. 

Photo of from the Carr Fire: