Incident Name: patrolling for lightning fires in Denio area
Date: 7/10/16, about 5:20 PM
Personnel: 2 lives lost
Age:
Agency/Organization: Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management
Position: wildland firefighters
Summary:
Jacob O’Malley, 27 of Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe
Will Hawkins, 22 of Reno
Two Bureau of Land Management firefighters — Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins — died, and a third was injured in a fire engine rollover accident about 37 miles north of Winnemucca on Sunday evening, July 10. Zachery McElroy was evacuated to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno with non-life threatening injuries. The BLM engine was returning to Winnemucca from the Denio area, where the crew had been patrolling for fires following a lightning storm. The cause of the accident is under investigation but a preliminary investigation indicates the engine was headed south on SR140 when it overturned due to tire failure.
Photos courtesy of BLM from Jacob and Will’s Facebook page
Jake O’Malley
Will Hawkins
Maps
southbound lane of SR 140 about 6 miles west of the junction of State Highway 140 and U.S. 95
Mile marker 6 Southbound lanes of Highway 140 (USNG: 11T MF 2499 8386)
Approximate accident location
{mosmap lat=’41.400985’|lon=’-117.902245’|marker=’0’|text=’Approximate accident location’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- DOI, Bureau of Land Management announcement: Two BLM firefighters killed on duty, one injured, names not yet released
- DOI, Bureau of Land Management: 24-hour Report
- DOI, Bureau of Land Management: 72-hour Report
Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
- BLM Firefighters killed in Nevada highway crash7/10/2016 | Online Article
A procession was held Monday as the bodies of two BLM firefighters were escorted from Winnemucca to Reno.
Nevada Highway Patrol and local agencies formed a procession ending at the corner of East Second Street and Kirman Avenue.
The two died in a Sunday evening crash about 37 miles north of Winnemucca.
UPDATE: Names released (more at the link…)
- Names released of firefighters killed in Humboldt County crash7/10/2016 | Online Article
HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Nev. (KOLO) – A crash on Highway 140 north of Winnemucca killed two Bureau of Land Management firefighters and sent a third to a hospital Sunday.
The driver of the BLM fire truck was 27-year-old Jacob O’Malley of Zephyr Cove, according to the BLM. The right front passenger was 22-year-old Will Hawkins of Reno. Both men died in the crash.
The passenger seated in the middle of the truck is 23-year-old Zachery McElroy of Reno. He was transported to Renown Regional Medical Center via Care Flight with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. (more at the link…)
- 2 BLM firefighters killed in crash in Nevada were roommatesJuly 12, 2016 | Online Article
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two federal firefighters killed in a crash after an apparent fire engine tire blow-out on a Nevada highway were roommates for the summer wildfire battle in the West, the father of one of them said Tuesday.
Jacob O’Malley, a seven-year Bureau of Land Management firefighter, had been promoted this year to captain of the three-member seasonal firefighting crew that crashed Sunday on State Highway 140 north of Winnemucca, said his father, Leonard O’Malley. (more at the link…)
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- BLM Memorial announcement:
- Memorial Service for Fallen Firefighters Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins to be Held in Winnemucca on Tuesday, July 19thMemorial services will be held for BLM wildland firefighters Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins who lost their lives in a single-vehicle accident July 10 on Nevada State Route 140. The services will take place at the Winnemucca Events Complex Exhibit Hall from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, in Winnemucca, Nevada.
The BLM firefighters were returning from duty in the Denio area on their way back to Winnemucca when the accident occurred at about 5:20 p.m. Sunday evening. Jacob, 27, and Will, 22, were killed in the rollover accident. Their coworker, Zachery McElroy, 23, was flown to Renown Medical Center in Reno, where he was treated and released Tuesday afternoon. The BLM fire crew was returning from a routine patrol looking for lightning fires in the area when the accident occurred.
The two men both resided in Winnemucca, though Jacob was from Lake Tahoe’s Zephyr Cove and Will was from Reno. The families of Jacob and Will have established private family memorial services in the Lake Tahoe and Reno areas, respectively.
“Everyone is invited to attend the Winnemucca services on Tuesday to honor Jacob and Will – two brave, hardworking firefighters who were dearly loved by their families and coworkers,” said BLM Nevada State Director John Ruhs.
The BLM deployed a Serious Accident Investigation (SAI) team to determine the accident cause and other
information.Winnemucca Events Complex
1000 Fairgrounds Road
Winnemucca, NV 89445
- Memorial service held for BLM firefighters killed in crash7/19/2016 | Online Article
Mourners gathered at the Winnemucca events center Tuesday to pay tribute to BLM firefighters Jacob O’Malley and Will Hawkins, who were killed in a July 10 vehicle crash.
Gov. Brian Sandoval spoke at the services, calling the two men “battle born Nevadans” who served their state and country with honor. He also spoke about their legacy, and the impact they had on the firefighters they served with. “We know their life’s work lives on in the firefighters that are with us today. We must all of us be thankful today and every day that each one of you will carry on Jacob and Will’s legacy.” said Sandoval.
Sandoval also spoke… (more at the link…)
- Jake O’Malley Memorial Service info and go-fund-me page to offset costs; remainder will be donated to the WFFA celebration of life for Jake will be held on:
Date: Saturday, July 16th
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: George Whittell High School
240 Warrior Way
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
Services will be held in the gymnasium
Parking at Whittell will be limited. Please arrive early, and carpool if possible.
- USFA Memorial Database: Jacob O’Malley | Will Hawkins
- Will Hawkins: A Hero’s tribute from his family: YouTube video
- Dedication by Gov Brian Sandoval of a 12 mile stretch of highway — Nevada SR140 — on 11/2/2017 as a memorial to fallen BLM firefighters Will Hawkins and Jacob O’Malley: NDOT News youtube video
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