A firefighter has died after suffering a cardiac emergency while battling a blaze in southwestern Montana. Authorities say Ruben Gonzales Romero was given medical aid, but attempts to resuscitate him failed. The 60-year-old contract firefighter from Keizer, Oregon, died Sunday afternoon. Gov. Greg Gianforte referred to him as a “fallen hero” in offering condolences. Gonzales Romero was one of more than 700 firefighters working on a fire triggered by lightning about 15 miles north of Virginia City, Montana. The fire has burned through about 15 square miles.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A 60-year-old contract firefighter from Oregon died after suffering a cardiac emergency while battling a wildfire in southwestern Montana.
Ruben Gonzales Romero collapsed while conducting suppression work on the ground and received medical aid within three minutes, said Kira Powell, a spokesperson for the Bivens Creek fire burning in the Tobacco Root Mountains. However, resuscitation attempts failed, and the Keizer, Oregon, man died Sunday afternoon.
Gonzales Romero had more than 20 years experience as a firefighter, mainly doing chain-saw work, according to his company TJ Forestry Contracting LLC.
Gov. Greg Gianforte referred to him as a “fallen hero” in a statement offering condolences.
Gonzales Romero was among more than 700 firefighters working on the lightning-caused fire in the Tobacco Root Mountains about 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of Virginia City, Montana.
The Bivens Creek fire has burned about 3 1/2 square miles (9 square kilometers) since Aug. 13 in a remote area with thick timber and numerous dead trees.