With great sorrow the U.S. forest Service confirmed that a U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter was killed Saturday evening in the Lake Tahoe area.

They say that the the fire crew member succumbed to injuries suffered when struck by a tree during initial firefighting efforts on a new fire, the Sierra Fire.A second firefighter who was also injured in the same incident was treated and released from the hospital.

The fire was said to have begun around 5:30 p.m. in a remote area between the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Eldorado National Forest.

KTVN will have more information on this incident as it is made available.

The Staff here at The Pine Tree send our heart felt prayers to the family, friends and co workers of this brave fire fighter who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.