South Lake Tahoe, CA…It is with great sorrow we must confirm the loss of a U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter this evening in the Lake Tahoe area. The fire crew member succumbed to injuries suffered when struck by a tree during initial firefighting efforts on a new wildfire named the “Sierra” Fire. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30pm in a remote area between the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Eldorado National Forest.

A second firefighter who was also injured in the incident has been treated and released from a local hospital. Additional information will be forthcoming as details become available.

Source=USFS Release