A 73-year-old California woman who worked as a ranger, monitoring wildfires at U.S. Forest Service towers in Siskiyou County, died in the McKinney fire, authorities said.
Kathy Shoopman’s first post was in 1974 at Baldy Mountain Lookout in the Klamath National Forest, west of the small town of Happy Camp, a statement from the US Forest Service said. He went on to work at Buckhorn and Lake Mountain lookouts.
For almost 50 years, Shoopman lived in the Klamath River (population 200), a town that was almost completely destroyed by the flames. Homes, including a caravan park, a community hall and some other businesses were destroyed. “This fire came down on the community with 60 to 70 mph winds,” said Tom Stokesberry, fire public affairs specialist for the US Forest Service’s northern operations. “We share this pain with each and every one of you and know that individually and as the supportive community that we are, we will find many ways to honor Kathy’s life and service and keep her spirit alive in all of our lives,” he said. . Forest Service said in a Facebook post honoring Shoopman.
Landscape of the Klamath National Forest near Mount Shasta in California.
Leonid Andronov/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Stokesberry said it is his understanding that Shoopman was trying to evacuate when he died, but the circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.
“When the fire made its initial push, she was trapped in her home,” Stokesberry said.
Lookouts work in shifts on towers that are located on high peaks and rise above forests that are at risk of wildfires. Their job is to identify fires when they start and are small and easy to put out.
“She was one of the best,” Stokesberry said. “He is a legend in the watch community. Not only was he able to identify the fires, but he was able to pinpoint them.”
Landscape of the Klamath National Forest near Mount Shasta in California.
Zack Frank/Getty Images/500px
The McKinney Fire, now the state’s largest this year, ignited near the California-Oregon border on July 29, and quickly exploded into a raging monster that killed four people, including Shoopman. It destroyed more than 100 homes while sweeping 60,379 acres; it is 40% contained as of Monday.