NEWS

CHIEF DAN PACKER, FIRE CHIEF, KILLED IN CA WILDFIRES

By: Lyle Evansiano July 27, 2008

UPDATE Pierce County Executive John W. Ladenburg has directed that all flags in Pierce County be lowered to half-staff Wednesday, July 30 through Thursday, August 7 in memory of East Pierce Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Packer, who was killed firefighting in Northern California July 26. Dan was serving as a division chief for a National Type 1 Incident Management Team that had been activated on July 25.

Flags should remain at half-staff until sunset Thursday or first thing Friday morning, Aug 8. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.


It is with the deepest sorrow and regret that we inform you that Chief Dan Packer, Fire Chief with East Pierce Fire & Rescue and WFC Immediate Past President, died in a California Wildfire on Saturday, July 27, 2008. Chief Packer was deployed on Friday, July 26, 2008 and was serving as Division Supervisor in the Siskiyou mountains in Northern California. He was over run by the fire when the wind shifted unexpectedly.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his fire department and the fire service to which he dedicated his life.

This is the second firefighter fatality from Washington State on this fire. On Friday, July 25, 2008, Firefighter Andrew Palmer with the Olympic National Park died after being struck by a tree.

All fire station American flags should be lowered to half-staff from time of announcement until 24 hours after conclusion of services. All fire department badges should be shrouded from time of announcement until 24 hours after conclusion of services.

More information will be released as soon as it becomes available.

Mike Brown
Executive Director
Washington Fire Chiefs
360-352-0161

(the residents of Bonney lake and Orting who have had the pleasure of meeting, knowing or working with this wonderful community leader will understand the immence loss East Pierce County has sufferred with his death==his death happening while living his life in the service of others).