Incident Name: Archie Creek Fire
Date: 9/18/2020
Personnel: Walter Samuel Elsbury Jr.
Age: 67
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Summary:
The Southern Area Red Team, who has been managing the Archie Creek Fire on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, Douglas Forest Protective Association and Umpqua National Forest, regrets to report the death of Walter (Wally) Samuel Elsbury, Jr., a firefighter assigned to the Archie Creek Fire. Fire personnel found Mr. Elsbury unresponsive in his vehicle at a fire staging area Friday morning, September 18, 2020, before he began his shift as a heavy equipment operator.
The Douglas County Sheriff\’s Office responded and notified Mr. Elsbury\’s family. No foul play is suspected.
Mr. Elsbury, of Elsbury Logging Company in Burns/Hines, Oregon, had been working on the Archie Creek Fire for about a week as skidgeon operator. He was helping to protect structures along Little River Road south of Glide on the west flank of the fire.
The Bureau of Land Management, Umpqua National Forest and Douglas Forest Protective Association are deeply saddened over Mr. Elsbury\’s death, said Incident Commander Mike Dueitt. We want the Elsbury family to know our Incident Management Team, the firefighting community as a whole and the residents along Little River Road are forever grateful for the work Wally did to protect homes from the Archie Creek Fire. Our condolences to you for the loss of your loved one.
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