Incident Name: Pack Test
Date: 5/17/2014
Personnel: Ted F Drake
Age: 62
Agency/Organization: Wyoming State Forestry Division, Newcastle, WY
Position: firefighter
Summary: On 5/17/2014 Fire Crew Supervisor Ted Drake passed away from a reported heart attack while participating in a work capacity (fitness) test for red card certification, part of the wildland fire qualification system used by federal and most state wildland fire management agencies. Fire Crew Supervisor Drake, a career employee of Wyoming State Forestry Division, supervised and trained inmates called “Smoke Busters,” well-respected teams utilized to fight wildland fires and complete many other associated projects on both federal and state lands. Ted was transported to Newcastle hospital and did not survive.
Newcastle Hospital, Wyoming
Incident Location: U.S. National Grid: 13T EJ 6542 5881
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Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Wyoming State Forestry Division Press Release, May 18, 2014Wyoming State Forestry Division Employee Line of Duty Death
May 19, 2014
Contact: Bill Crapser, Wyoming State Forester 307-214-7843
(Newcastle, Wyo.) — The Wyoming State Forestry Division employee that died in the line of duty on May 17, 2014, in Newcastle, Wyoming has been identified as Honor Conservation Crew Supervisor Ted Drake.
Mr. Drake was participating with other employees in the annual firefighter work capacity test (pack test) when he suffered a heart attack and attempts to revive him on scene were not successful.
Mr. Drake was 63 years old and had worked for the Wyoming State Forestry Division as a Crew Supervisor since June 2006.
“The Wyoming State Forestry Division is deeply saddened by this tragic event,” Bill Crapser, Wyoming State Forester said. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and co-workers. The support from the fire service in Wyoming and the wildland fire service nationally is greatly appreciated.”
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Wildlandfire.com Links:
- Theysaid: 5/18/14 news article (no longer online)
- Wyoming State Forestry employee dies Saturday in line of duty5/18/2014 | Online Article
A Wyoming State Forestry employee died after suffering an apparent heart attack in the line of duty Saturday, according to a release from the Wyoming State Forestry Division.
The employee, whose name has yet to be released, was participating with other employees in an annual pack test, a type of work capacity testing for wildland firefighters that measures aerobic capacity, muscular strength and muscular endurance, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s website.
The man suffered an apparent heart attack during the test, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser said in the release that “The Wyoming State Forestry Division is deeply saddened by this tragic event.”
“Our hearts go out to his family, friends and co-workers,” Crapser said.
- USFA Memorial Database: Ted F. Drake
- Memorial Service May 20, 2014 at the Newcastle Assembly of God
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