Arnold Firefighter Killed In Wildfire

Fire officials have released the name of the firefighter killed and those injured yesterday fighting the Tuolumne Fire near Groveland.

At a news conference in Sacramento at 10 a.m. this morning, California Department of Forestry officials say 24 year old CDF firefighter Eva Schicke of Arnold was killed near Lumsden Road and the middle fork of the Tuolumne River when the flames overtook the fire crew.

The accident happen at 1:45 p.m. yesterday afternoon as the Columbia-based initial attack crew was cutting line around the fire with hand tools and back pumps. The six firefighters and one fire captan had been dropped off by CDF helicopter into the fire zone.

Injured firefighters include 29 year-old CDF Captain Jonah Winger, 23 year-old Jon Andahl, 29 year-old Josh Augustin, 25 year-old Thomas “TJ” Fraser, 29 year-old Jeff Boatman and 24 year-old Shane Neveau. Neveau was taken to Doctor´s Medical Center for treatment.

Debbie Keenan with Tuolumne/Calaveras CDF Unit says the accident is currently being investigated by a joint CDF and U.S. Forest Service team