El Portal, CA…It is with deep sadness that CAL FIRE can confirm that this morning while battling the Ferguson Fire on the Sierra National Forest, CAL FIRE Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney from the CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit was tragically killed. He leaves behind a wife and two small children. Please join us in keeping Braden, his loved ones and his fellow fire family in your thoughts as they grieve this sudden loss.