US Forest Service

Yakima, WA: On July 10, 2001 a fire in Chewuch Canyon in the Okanogan National Forest trapped Bruce and Paula Hagemeyer while camping. The 9,300 acre wildfire killed four US Forest Service firefighters from Central Washington. The Hagemeyers survived by sharing a one-person aluminum fire shelter with a Forest Service employee who was part of a 14-member crew similarly trapped. The couple filed a lawsuit against the US Forest Service claiming Ellreese Daniels, the crew boss charged with manslaughter over firefighters' deaths, failed to arrange to protect them as they waited for the flames to pass. The US federal government has paid the two campers $400,000 to settle the lawsuit. (Jan-13-07) [SEATTLE TIMES: WILDFIRE CAMPERS]

Legal Help

If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please click the link below.