The US Forest Service stated in a news release Sunday that a firefighter was hit and killed by a falling tree about 5:30 p.m. while working in an area between the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Eldorado National Forest, according to FOX News. A second firefighter was also injured in the incident, but treated and released at a local hospital.
The dead firefighter was identified as Michael Hallenbeck, 21, of Shingle Springs, CA, according to the San Fransisco Chronical. Hallenbeck was a rookie on the Forest Service with just a few weeks experience, and this was his first forest fire. Hallenbeck was based out of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
This is the second firefighter killed in the line of duty in less than a month. Firefighter David Ruhl was deployed on special assignment from Rapid City, South Dakota, when he was killed while scouting a fire in the Modoc National Forest in California, in late July.
Over 10,000 firefighters have been sent to battle the growing fires in California's drought areas, whic was likely caused by lightning. As of Sunday, the Sierra Fire was 75 percent contained.
