Incident Name: Carr Fire
Date: 7/26/2018
Personnel: Don Ray Smith
Age: 81
Agency/Organization: CAL FIRE private dozer fire hire
Position: Dozer operator
Summary:
Don Ray Smith, 81, of Pollock Pines was identified by the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office as the man who died while operating a bulldozer during the Carr Fire. The Deputy Coroner Investigator said Smith was overtaken by the fire and his body was found in the area of Benson Drive and Rock Creek Road. Smith was found dead by emergency personnel.
His next of kin have been notified and a postmortem exam will be scheduled, deputies said.
According to newly-released Green Sheet preliminary research, a fire tornado was apparently to blame for both Jeremy Stoke’s and Don Ray Smith’s deaths.
Maps
Incident Location: Benson Drive and Rock Creek Road, Redding, CA (U.S. National Grid: 10T EK 42992 96135 (DD: 40.615, -122492))
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- CAL FIRE News Release: Carr Fire Fatality Statement 7/26/2018, 9:55 pmThe Carr Fire Unified Incident Commanders from CAL FIRE, National Parks Service are deeply saddened to report the death of a private hire dozer operator on the Carr Fire. Fact finding on the accident is ongoing and notification of the next of kin is in progress.
The Carr fire continues to burn at a rapid rate with erratic fire behavior. More information will be released as it becomes available.
- CAL FIRE: Green Sheet (Preliminary Report); I’m seeking to acquire the actual document.
- ‘Mayday!’ New details explain how Carr Fire killed two on front lines of fire tornado
8/16/2018 | sacbee.comPinned down by a vicious “fire tornado,” Redding fire inspector Jeremy Stoke radioed “Mayday” and called for helicopters to drop water on the neighborhood where he was trapped.His body was found the next morning.
A “Green Sheet” preliminary investigative report released Wednesday by Cal Fire provides dramatic details of how the Carr Fire in Redding claimed its first two victims: Stoke, 37, and private bulldozer operator Don Ray Smith, 81, who was helping to dig trenches in an effort to contain the blaze. (Much more at the link…)
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Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
- Bulldozer operator who died in Carr Fire identified as Pollock Pines resident7/27/2018 | Damon Arthur, Redding Record Searchlight
Bulldozer operator who died ID’d
Don Ray Smith, 81, of Pollock Pines was identified by the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office as the man who died while operating a bulldozer during the Carr Fire.
The Deputy Coroner Investigator said Smith was overtaken by the fire and his body was found in the area of Benson Drive and Rock Creek Road. Smith was found dead by emergency personnel.
His next of kin have been notified and a postmortem exam will be scheduled, deputies said.
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- USFA Memorial Database: Don Ray Smith
- Go Fund Me: Don Ray Smith
- American Samoan firefighters sing to Carr Fire-ravaged Shasta County
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