Firefighter dies while working BWCAW wildfires

REGIONAL- A firefighter working to contain wildfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness died Tuesday after suffering a medical emergency near Ely.
Leslie R. Washington of Noorvik, Ala., tragically passed on while on the K-River 2 crew on the Bear Trap Fire near Ely, according to a report from S.E.S Fire.
“Right now our hearts are with his family, the community of Noorvik, Ala., and the Inupiaq people of the Northwest Arctic,” they wrote.
The Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team said the emergency was reported at about 10:40 a.m. Fire personnel and emergency medical services transported the firefighter to a hospital, where he later died.
Officials had not released or confirmed a cause of death as of Wednesday morning. Other media outlets reported that he was from Alaska and that his death was medical in nature. Fire officials said additional information would be released when it becomes available and is confirmed.
A procession of fire and emergency vehicles later escorted the firefighter’s body to Superior, Wis. Departments along the route were asked to assemble beside the highway to honor him as the procession passed. Firefighters from Tower, Breitung, Greenwood, and Vermilion Lake were among those who took part locally.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and fellow firefighting community,” the U.S. Forest Service said.