Incident Name:  North Fork Complex
Date: accident date August 20, 1998; death date March 10, 2008
Personnel: Raul A. Resendez
Age: 61
Agency/Organization:  Forest Service (or Bureau of Land Management)
Position: wildlandfire equipment transfer and transport, dispatcher

Summary: Raul Resendez was an employee of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, ID when he was involved in a motor vehicle accident while transporting fire equipment to the 7,223 acre North Fork Complex in Salmon, ID on August 20, 1998. Raul passed away on March 10th, 2008 due to complications from the accident. Raul was a longtime WAE employee at NIFC, who had driven semi-tractors, school buses, and many other vehicles over his career supporting wildland fire operations. Raul was also a Dispatcher with the Transportation Unit, notifying drivers and preparing loads for departure to wildland fire incidents.

Maps

Nampa, ID

{mosmap lat=’43.581321’|lon=’-116.570768’|marker=’0’|text=’Nampa, ID’}

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Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned

From his wife to his church community a month after the accident, when it has become clear the extent of Raul’s head injury and that he would never be the same:

Peace everyone, I would like to request prayer once again for my husband, Raul Resendez (and myself for strength and understanding). It appears to be that the Motor Vehicle Accident he had last month, August 20 (a rollover- of an 18wheeler he was driving) caused a concussion or head injury that is just now strongly revealing itself to where his memory is being affected.
At times he forgets where he’s at or what he’s doing or how to complete or start something. Sometimes he doesn’t recognize someone in front of him that he knows and sometimes he will. It’s awfully confusing. And a little worrisome.
I know that the Lord has everything in control – I don’t. Please remember to pray for us. There’s a lot of work to do here in Idaho and I know that the Lord is molding us – sometimes the mold hurts a little, though. Sometimes it hurts a lot.
Our Asst. Pastor, Brother Alfredo Chavez has been of great support and is taking care of the church while Raul is ill.

We need you, we need your prayers.

God bless you, Ema Resendez, Apostolic Church in Caldwell, ID

US Social Security Death Index from Family Search: Raul A. Resendez

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Contributors to this article: Mellie, Vicki

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