Firefighter Fatality

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Chris Seelye

Rank: Firefighter

Age: Pending

Gender: Male

Status: Wildland Contract

Years of Service: Pending

Date of Incident: 09/17/2012

Time of Incident: Pending

Date of Death: 09/17/2012

Fire Department: USDA Forest Service

Address: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801

Fire Department Chief: Forest Supervisor Rebecca Heath

Incident Description: Firefighter Chris Seelye, under contract with the USDA Forest Service, suffered a medical emergency while battling the Wenatchee Complex Fire.  Firefighter Seelye was treated by incident medical personnel and rushed to a nearly hospital where he passed away later that evening.

Incident Location: Wenatchee Complex Fire north of Entiat, WA

Funeral Arrangements: Pending

Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Chris Seelye at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

To date, 59 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2012. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm