A Utah firefighter has died after being injured while fighting the largest recorded fire in California history.
Draper City Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Burchett, 42, of Draper, Utah, died Monday while fighting the Mendocino Complex fire north of San Francisco.
California officials have declined to provide details about what led to Burchett’s injuries and death.
Utah firefighter Matthew Burchett, 42, died Monday after sustaining injuries while working to fight the flames in California’s Mendocino Complex wildfires
The Draper City Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday that Burchett had been injured on Monday night while combating the Mendocino fire near Pillsbury, California.
He was given advanced life support care by crews on site and airlifted to California’s Ukiah Valley Medical Center within 40 minutes. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Burchett, a 20-year veteran firefighter, left his Draper home in early August and volunteered to head to California along with 37 other firefighters from the state to help battle blazes that have been ravaging homes in the coastal state.
City and fire officials in the Salt Lake City suburb where Burchett lived and worked mourned his death on Tuesday.
A large American flag flew at half-mast outside the town hall, and smaller American flags were put up lining the sidewalk.
Burchett (left) left his Draper, Utah, home to work on the California flames in early August
After Burchett (far left) was injured, he was given advanced life support care by crews on site and airlifted to California’s Ukiah Valley Medical Center, where he later died
Burchett’s Draper City Fire Station No. 21 flew their flag at half-staff Tuesday to honor him
Draper Mayor Troy Walker said at a news conference that Burchett was a veteran firefighter with extensive experience working on wildfires. He said he didn’t have details about the events that led to Burchett’s death.
‘These men are American heroes. They literally stand in the fire to help other people,’ Walker said. ‘I don’t know how you get better than that. I know he was proud to do it. I know all of them are.’
He was one of five Draper firefighters who went to California, Walker said.
Burchett had just started with the Draper Fire Department in May after 20 years with another Salt Lake City area fire department.
He was a battalion chief who was hired to oversee the city’s wildland firefighting efforts, colleague Bart Vawdrey said.
Burchett was a good man with a dry wit who was very professional and a ‘master of his craft,’ said Vawdrey, a fellow battalion chief in Draper.
‘It’s tough anytime you lose a brother,’ Vawdrey said. ‘We get into this profession to help people, and Matt jumped at the chance to go assist in California.’
Burchett was a veteran firefighter with 20 years on the job. He was said to have had experience combating wildfires before traveling to California to combat the wildfires. (Stock image of firefighters monitoring a blaze in the Mendocino Complex fire from August 7)
Firefighters from all over the country have been helping California battle a series of deadly and devastating wildfires in recent weeks that have spread through drought-parched forests and rural communities.
Six firefighters, including Burchett, have died in the wildfires so far.
Funeral services are pending for Burchett.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said in a statement that he’s heartbroken over Burchett’s death and offered his prayers for Burchett’s wife and six-year-old son.
‘When he left with his fellow firefighters to battle the wildfires in California we were so proud of his service – now his heroism leaves us both proud and devastated,’ Herbert said. ‘He gave everything to defend the lives of others.’
The Salt Lake City Tribune reported that the four other Draper firefighters who had traveled to California to help combat the wildfire have been pulled off the line and are expected to return to Utah soon. They remained by Burchett’s side throughout the incident.