Klamath National Forest

Newsroom - Incident Investigation Team Arrives on Klamath National Forest

Contact: Davida Carnahan/Duane Lyon (530) 841-4517
Cell (530) 209-5692 or (530) 598-9303

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For immediate release.

Yreka, CA (July 29, 2008)...The Panther Fire Incident Investigation Team arrived on the Klamath National Forest on July 28, 2008 to gather information on the events leading up to the death of Fire Chief Daniel Bruce Packer while working on the Panther Fire on July 26, 2008. 

The purpose of the accident investigation is to provide fire managers with information for accident prevention.  Jim Reaves is the team leader; Ivan Pupulidy is the Chief Investigator.  Reaves said, "The accident investigation team is brought together to gather and interpret information to help managers understand how and why the accident occurred."

Team members will gather physical and photographic evidence, interview witnesses, and prepare a safety investigation report.  The team’s final report will be submitted to the Accident Review Board at the agency’s Washington, D.C. office within 45 days from the date that the investigation team convened.  After their review, the Accident Review Board will submit that report to the Chief of the Forest Service.

A preliminary report was made 24 hours after the date of the accident.  Reaves' team will submit a 72-hour report following their initial assessment.  Both reports may be viewed on the Klamath National Forest website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath. 

Chief Packer, Lake Tapps, Wash and Fire Chief of East Pierce Fire and Rescue, had responded to a request by the U.S. Forest Service to serve as a Division Supervisor for the incident management team managing the Siskiyou Complex. At the time of the accident Packer had been doing reconnaissance of the Panther Fire in preparation for his team to take over responsibility the next day for managing the Panther Fire.

USDA Forest Service - Klamath National Forest
Last Modified: Wednesday, 30 July 2008 at 09:45:50 EDT