Incident Name: Schoolhouse Mesa; Token was scouting the lightning-caused 30-acre Stable Fire and smaller Schoolhouse Fire; Holiday Incident Search and Rescue, Jemez RD, Santa Fe National Forest
Date: incident date: 8/30/2013; body found 9/6/2013 about 1145 hrs
Personnel: Token Mark Adams
Age: 41
Agency/Organization: USFS
Position: Engine Captain
Summary: Token Adams and two other firefighters were scouting a 25-acre fire on ATVs in the Jemez Wilderness on 8/30/2013. They separated with plans to meet later. Two came back; Token did not and was reported missing. Hundreds of responders searched in dangerous terrain for Token. Reinarz’ NM Type 1 Incident Management Team was called in to coordinate the search.
Karen Takai, PIO on the terrain: “The roads out here are like spaghetti — it winds together and it’s extremely confusing and dangerous. There are two- to three-hundred-foot drops. You have cliffs on the side. That’s the kind of terrain we’re dealing with,” she said. “The brush is even so thick they have used a heat-sensing airplane, but there was nothing found.”
Token Adams’ body was found by a group of Native American searchers in the Jemez Wilderness a week after he was reported missing. Adams’ all-terrain vehicle is reported to have fallen on top of him, but the investigation is not complete. The fire he was scouting was contained at 25 acres.
Maps
Jemez Mountains, Stable Mesa near Jemez Springs “He was trying to get on Schoolhouse Mesa from Stable Mesa (where ICP was).” USNG: 13S CV 42 66 Exact location below:
{mosmap lat=’35.796690’|lon=’-106.770858’|marker=’0’|text=’Accident Location’}
Search and Rescue Briefing Map:
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Holiday Incident Search and Rescue News Release, Sept 2, 2013
Holiday Incident (Missing Firefighter) Evening Update
Monday, September 2, 2013, 6 pm: The search for Jemez Ranger District (Santa Fe National Forest) wildland firefighter, Token Adams, continued today after rain storms caused an overnight delay. Over 250 individuals from the Carson National Forest, Santa Fe National Forest, NM National Guard, NM State Police, NM Search and Rescue and various other agencies are actively looking for Token. NM State Police are also providing a helicopter to assist in the search.
The Southwest Incident Management Type 1 Team, Incident Commander Joe Reinarz, will take over command of search efforts Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. The Team will begin in-briefing starting 12 noon Tuesday, September 3.
Please direct all information requests at this time to the Jemez Ranger District
- Incident: Holiday Incident Search and Rescue News Release, Sept 3, 2013
Holiday Incident – Search Continues for Missing Firefighter
Tuesday, September 3, 2013, 10am – The search for Jemez Ranger District (Santa Fe National Forest) wildland firefighter, Token Adams, was hampered again yesterday by heavy afternoon rains. The steep, rugged, dense terrain has also challenged efforts despite the over 250 personnel involved in the search. The terrain in the vicinity of the search is described as extreme topography with steep uphill and downhill trails and sheer cliffs.
Token, the engine captain on a Jemez Ranger District engine has been missing for four days. The last communication from Token was received on Friday afternoon from Holiday Mesa. He and other firefighters from the Ranger District were responding to a smoke report and searching for the 25-acre School House Fire located near School House Mesa.
Despite the NM Search and Rescue grid pattern being used by the professional and dedicated personnel on the incident, search efforts have not been successful. Personnel are using GPS as part of this grid pattern and are being asked to report their locations hourly. Searchers will focus today on determining that certain areas have been fully searched.
Weather predictions for today and tonight are for a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms which will once again affect both air and ground operations.
The Southwest Incident Management Type 1 Team, Incident Commander Joe Reinarz, will assume command of search efforts as part of a unified command along with multiple Federal, State, County and local agencies, on Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m.
The family continues to ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
Please direct all information requests to the Holiday Incident Information Center at the Jemez Ranger District. Holiday Incident information is also being posted to www.inciweb.org
- Inciweb SAR on Sept 2, 2013
- Missing Person Poster requesting help in finding Token:
- The Rest of the Inciweb Archives [Inciweb Archives] on this incident: includes info surrounding the daily SAR Efforts, headed by Reinarz’ NM Type 1 Incident Management Team, finding Token’s body, and the memorials and services.
- Forest Service: 72-hour Preliminary Information Report Schoolhouse Mesa Fire Accident (183 K pdf)
- Forest Service: Schoolhouse Fire ATV Accident — Letter
- Forest Service: Schoolhouse Fire ATV Accident Report
Wildlandfire.com Links:
- Theysaid: 9/1/2013
- Hotlist: NM-SNF-Holiday, 9/2/2013
Media Articles and Reports
- Search resumes for firefighter missing in northern NM9/1/2013 | Online Article
AP. Jemez Springs, N.M. — Crews were back on the ground on Monday searching for a Forest Service firefighter who vanished in the Santa Fe National Forest in northern New Mexico on Friday while sizing up a wildfire’s perimeter on an ATV.
Forest Service spokeswoman Karen Takai said 100 searchers were scouring mesas and canyons amid heavy timber, brush and grass for 41-year-old Token Adams in the area of Jemez (HAY’-mus) Springs.
He failed to return to a pre-arranged meeting point Friday afternoon with two other firefighters who were also riding ATVs around the 25-acre wildfire southeast of Fenton Lake. Forest Service spokesman John Helmich said the lightning-started wildfire was fully contained late Friday. (More at the link…)
- Search for Token Adams, missing NM firefighter, hampered by weather in Santa Fe National Forest9/3/2013 | Online Article
The search for missing New Mexico firefighter Token Adams has entered its fifth day with no sign of the missing California native as 250 people continue to comb the Santa Fe National Forest in tough weather conditions.
Adams, 41, an engine captain with the Santa Fe-based Jemez Ranger District, went missing Friday afternoon after being dispatched to scout a wildfire. (More at the link…)
- Token Adams family speaks out9/5/2013 | Online Article
Jemez Springs, N.M. — For the first time since Jemez Springs firefighter Token Adams was reported missing this past week, his family is reacting to the ongoing search.
As 250 people scoured the forest Thursday, the search’s sixth day, there’s few who want to find him more than his 3-year-old son. “(Tristan) keeps asking for daddy,” said Adams’ father-in-law Harold David Abbott. “We tell him daddy is in the woods, daddy’s missing and we’ve got a whole lot of people trying to find him.”
Abbott and his wife flew in from Maine the minute they heard Adams was missing. Abbot said his daughter, Adams’ wife, is hanging tough. “(Our daughter) is remarkably strong,” said Abbott. “She really is.” She is a little more than a week away from giving birth. “I know without a doubt everything and anything that can be done is being done,” said Abbott.
Crews are searching on the ground and from the sky. No clues have been found. It’s been almost one week since Adams went missing, along with his ATV.
There were no choppers involved in the search Thursday because the infrared technology they already used in past days did not show signs of Adams. (More at the link…)
- Missing Firefighter Found Deceased9/6/2013 | Online VIDEO (ABQJournal Channel)
Firefighter Token Adams, who was missing for a week, has been found deceased in the Santa Fe National Forest.
- Token Adams found deadFamily thanked those who helped in search
9/6/2013 | Online Article
JEMEZ SPRINGS, N.M. — U.S. Forest Service Officials said Token Adams’ body was found at about 11:45 a.m. Friday. Officials said an autopsy must be preformed to determine Adams’ official cause of death. They also said they believe he was injured in an ATV accident.
Staff members at the press conference were wearing purple ribbons. They are commonly associated with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation. It provides help to the families of fallen firefighters.
Hundreds of responders have taken on dangerous terrain to find Adams during the past week. Adams’ family said they’re thankful to those who helped in the search. (More at the link…)
- Press Conference 9/6/13
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- From Inciweb: Video Recording from Sept 5 News Conference is currently onlineUpdate: A recording of the news conference provided by the Albequerque Journal is also available: Missing Firefighter Found Deceased
- From Inciweb: Reflecting on Fallen Firefighter Token AdamsSaturday, September 7, 2013 – 11:00 am
Today the family and friends of Token Adams take time to reflect. It has been 7 days since Token was reported missing. Following a full week of intense searching by a multitude of agency personnel as well as hundreds of volunteers all coordinated by New Mexico State Police Search and Rescue along with the Southwest Incident Management Team Token’s body was located and recovered. At 10:30 pm last night following a half-day of investigation Token was escorted in a procession of Engines and Law Enforcement into Jemez Springs. He was given one final tour through the Jemez Ranger District compound as district employees family and friends lined the driveway to welcome Token back to the fire shop one final time.
Token was an Engine Captain working in Jemez Springs NM. He was 41 years old and had been an Engine Captain on the Jemez Ranger District for 1 ½ years. He was a wildland firefighter for 10 years including previous experience as a hotshot. Before coming to the Forest Service Token served in the U.S. Navy. Token grew up in the community of Coarsegold California and was a 1990 graduate of Yosemite High School in Oakhurst California.
Token is survived by his wife Heidi a 3 year old son Tristan his mother a brother and sister. Token’s wife Heidi is expecting their second child. He is also survived by his Forest Service family and the entire wildland firefighter community.
A memorial service for Token is being planned at this time. Information on the investigation and memorial service will be forthcoming as it becomes available. All public and media are asked to please respect the privacy of Token’s family and friends during this time of mourning.
- Announcement of Candlelight VigilSunday, Sept 8 2013 | Inciweb
A candlelight vigil to remember and honor fallen wildland firefighter Token Adams has been planned for tonight Sunday September 8th at 8 pm. The vigil is being hosted by area churches. The location of the vigil is the Jemez Springs Park. The public is asked to please provide your own candles.
- Announcement of Memorial Service
Sept 9, 2013 | Inciweb
A memorial service has been scheduled for Fallen Firefighter Token Adams. The service information is as follows:
Thursday September 12th 2013 at 10:00 am
Calvary of Albuquerque
4001 Osuna Rd. NE
Albuquerque NM 87109To get further information about the service for Token Adams please go to danielsfunderal.com.
Internment
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Vista Verde Memorial Park
4310 Sara Rd SE
Rio Rancho, NM, 87124 - Facebook: Token Adams
- NM Governor Susana Martinez (9/6/2013):“Token is an American hero, and he died in the way he lived: serving and protecting us. Only time will heal the tremendous pain felt by the beautiful family Token leaves behind, and he will never be forgotten. I join the people of New Mexico in mourning his loss and sending our thoughts and prayers to Heidi, Tristan, and their little baby.”
- US Senator Tom Udall Statement on firefighter Token Adams following the news that missing Jemez Ranger District Engine Captain Token Adams has died (9/6/2013).“I am thankful for Token Adams’s courage as he fought fires to protect all of us, and I am thankful to the crews who worked through difficult conditions to find him. His death is a very sad loss for our community and a reminder of the risks our firefighters and first responders face every day to keep our communities safe. My deepest sympathies are with Token’s family, his friends and his crewmates during this difficult time.”
- In Memory of Token Adams Donation Page created by Kate Dennison, family friend
- USFS Heroes Memorial: Token Adams
- USFA Memorial Database: Token Adams
Photos of Token provided by Karen Takai, PIO for the Santa Fe NF. Blackhawk helicopter photo provided by the NM National Guard.
- Token is memorialized with other firefighters in Bastrop, TX Memorial Garden.
- USFA Memorial Database: Token Adams
- USFS Heroes Memorial: Token Adams
Contributors to this article: John Miller, Joe Rienarz Incident Management Team, RJM, Wildland Firefighter Foundation
Please support the Wildland Firefighter Foundation
