Firefighter Died After Being Trapped in Wind-Fueled Blaze

A firefighter killed by a wildfire in Northern California was scouting the area when he became trapped after erratic winds stoked the blaze, officials said Saturday

Firefighters fight a controlled fire Oct. 9, 2014, at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The live fire demonstration, hosted by the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron, allowed friends and family members to be educated and entertained as part of fire prevention week. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo

ALTURAS, Calif.—A firefighter killed by a wildfire in Northern California was scouting the area when he became trapped after erratic winds stoked the blaze, officials said Saturday.

U.S. Forest Service firefighter David Ruhl was driving down a Modoc National Forest road in a vehicle Thursday. The fire suddenly grew and trapped him, information officer Ken Sandusky said.

“He was trying to develop a plan of attack,” Sandusky said.

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