Rapid City firefighter killed in California wildfire

The Rocky Fire was one of 20 wildfires being fought in California. The crews will battle mountainous wildfires in northern California using hand tools like shovels, axes and rakes to manually create a fire break or fire line around the wildfire perimeter.

“It depends on mother nature, whatever she has in store”, Smith said.

They searched that night, but had to stop because of hazardous fire conditions. Efforts resumed about 6 a.m. Friday and Ruhl’s body was found shortly before 9:30 a.m.

An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted this week, the U.S. Forest Service said.

David “Dave” Ruhl, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was on a temporary assignment when responding to the Modoc National Forest.

“He was definitely passionate about being a firefighter and being a good firefighter”, said Ryan Cumbow, engine captain for the firefighting crew assigned to the Fort Pierre National Grassland and Ruhl’s former supervisor when Ruhl worked on that crew.

The Forestry Commission cooperates with these departments to prevent and control structural and wildland fires, employing highly trained firefighters and specialized equipment when fires burn into forested areas that are hard to reach. “He made lasting friends from all over and had an awesome sense of humor”.

“Mountain thunderstorms will continue through Sunday with little rain which could spark fire starts from dry lightning strikes”, Berlant said in a statement.

Almost 2,000 firefighters are battling the blaze, which broke out on Wednesday and is only 5 percent contained, the same percentage as on Saturday, according to the website.

This August. 3, 2015, map shows fire activity detected by VIIRS over the last six, 12 and 24 hours. At least 70 fires have been reported in the area since Thursday.

The blazes have charred 1,200 acres and destroyed two structures in steep, hard to access terrain.