Video: California wildfires claim second Wash. firefighter

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YREKA, Calif. — Flags at fire stations throughout the state are flying at half staff after a prominent fire chief from Washington died Saturday while scouting a Northern California blaze.

Chief Daniel Packer of East Pierce County Fire and Rescue was working as a division supervisor on the 250-acre Panther Fire, part of the Siskiyou Complex of fires covering more than 8.4 square miles.

With his experience in fighting wildland fires, Packer and another firefighter took the lead in scouting some terrain when a fast moving raced towards them.

"They both were able to get under their shelter but unfortunately Mr. Packer died," said Susan Overkamp, public information officer for Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office. "It looked like the fire was just so hot that it wasn't able to shield him from the intense heat."

Packer's body has been recovered from the scene, and his colleagues say they're still waiting to learn more about how and why he died.

"Although there's always that sense of danger that goes with this job, nobody expects this to happen, certainly not to the chief of the organization. It's been a devastating situation for everybody," said East Pierce County Deputy Chief John McDonald.

Packer led a East Pierce department that employed 150 people and was the immediate past president of the Washington Fire Chief's Association.

In his work with the Chief's Association, Packer was especially involved in state emergency mobilization and incident management team planning.

Packer formed a wildfire team to respond to blazes in more than 4,500 acres, nearly seven square miles, of undeveloped land in his own jurisdiction, East Pierce County Battalion Chief Russ McCallion said.

"He was a veteran wildland firefighter," McCallion said. "Dan took that experience and helped develop our own wildland firefighting team."

The 49-year-old Packer grew up in Montana and began his professional career as bull rider on the rodeo circuit. He eventually switched to firefighting, married, and became the proud father of four daughters, and grandfather of two.

"What really defined him was as a husband and father and grandfather. He talked constantly about his family. His family was the number one priority in his life," said McDonald.

Packer's colleagues are taking shifts, spending time with Packer's widow and family.

Other members of the department have gone to California to learn more about the circumstances of Packer's death, and to bring his body back to Washington state.

Packer was the second Washington state firefighter to be killed fighting California fires in the past week. On Friday, Port Angeles-based firefighter Andrew Palmer, 18, died after he was hit by a falling tree while battling another Northern California wildfire.

On Sunday, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire expressed her condolence over the deaths of the firefighters in a statement: "I am deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two Washington state firefighters who were battling wildfires in Northern California. When called, they stepped up to help our neighbors in California. They gave their lives doing the hard, heroic work of protecting the lives of others."

A fund will be established by the Wildland Firefighter Foundation in Palmer's name. The foundation is online at http://wffoundation.org.

KING 5's Jane McCarthy contributed to this report.