Update (3:29pm): A press release has confirmed that a firefighter working the Big Windy Complex was involved in a fatal accident this morning.
According to the press release the firefighter, 19 year old Jesse Trader, was returning from the evening shift when the water tender he was driving hit the embankment and rolled over on the Bear Camp Road near Soldier Camp.
The water tender which is owned by “Ace Earthmoving” was being utilized by “County Fire”, a private firefighting company serving the Merlin area and contracted to assist with the Big Windy Fire at the time.
A press conference will be held at 4pm. NBC 5 will bring you the latest from the press conference at 5pm and 6pm tonight.
We are just learning of the first fatality in relation to a Southern Oregon wildfire.
ODF officials have confirmed that the fatality is related to the Big Windy Complex.
The Grants Pass Daily Courier is reporting that, according to Caveman Towing, a water truck drove off Bear Camp Road around 7:30am Tuesday morning.
Very few details are available at this time. We are working on getting more information from officials. Please stay tuned.
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