SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cal Fire Captain Stacy Hamilton died Saturday morning after a vehicle crash in Merced County, according to Cal Fire. Not long after news of his death was shared, Governor Gavin Newsom offered condolences to Hamilton's family.
“On behalf of all Californians, Jennifer and I extend our condolences to Captain Stacy Hamilton’s family, friends and colleagues in this difficult time," Gov. Newsom said in a statement. "It’s the work of brave firefighters like Stacy that keeps our communities safe and we are deeply grateful for his service.”
In honor of Captain Hamilton, Newsom said Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.
Hamilton worked with the Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras (Cal Fire TCU) unit in San Andreas, Calif.
"Captain Hamilton was assigned to the Columbia Air Attack Base and was an extremely talented Air Tactical Group Supervisor, a great friend, mentor, and person," Cal Fire TCU said in a post on Saturday.
Hamilton began his Cal Fire career in 2006 and previously served in the United States Forest Service, Cal Fire TCU said in a Facebook post, adding that while with Cal Fire TCU he was assigned to the Sierra Training Center, Forestry Training Program.
It was there that he trained inmates for four years until he transferred to the Columbia Helitack Program and began his devotion to the CAL FIRE Aviation Program, Cal Fire TCU said.
Hamilton is survived by his wife, Katie, and two teenage sons, Ian and Logan.