VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) - The U.S. Forest Service says one of its firefighters was killed Saturday evening in the Lake Tahoe area after he was struck by a tree while battling a wildfire. The firefighter was identified as 21-year-old Michael "Mike" Hallenbeck according to the US Forest Service. Hallenbeck was a member of Organized Crew 36.
"Our hearts go out to the family, friends and fellow crewmembers of this brave firefighter," said U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Randy Moore in a published statement. "The loss of any member of our Forest Service family is a tragedy. The grief we are feeling at the sudden loss of two of our firefighters; Dave Ruhl last week on the Modoc National Forest and now Mike Hallenbeck on the Basin, reminds us of the sacrifices these men and women make every day."
The agency said in a news release that the Hallenbeck was hit about 5:30 p.m. while working in a remote area between the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and El Dorado National Forest.
The Forest Service says a second male firefighter who was also injured in the incident has been treated and released from a nearby hospital.
