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Obituary
Ron Neely, Okanogan Assistant Fire Management Officer for the Conconully Ranger District, Okanogan N.F., had battled and defeated many forest fires during his career with the Forest Service. But the tables turned July 27,1977, when heat and smoke from the Gibson Creek Fire overcame the 28-year old Okanogan man as he tried to escape the racing flames. Ron was cut off from the others when the fire, fanned by high, erratic winds, exploded in an area of dry fuel and steep terrain. He died from asphyxiation within minutes after his last transmission about 3 p.m. that fateful Wednesday. Ron led the initial attack force on the fire and had left his crew to scout the blaze. The fire exploded so quickly, cutting off his escape route, that even with warning from the lookout, he did not have time to escape. Ron left behind a wife, Patti, and two sons, Brian age four and Adam age two days. Footnote: Cpl. Adam Neely was killed April 8, 2000, when the Osprey MV-22 he was flying in crashed. He was 22, leaving behind a wife of seven months and an unborn son (Adam Neely II was born 09/26/00. Eighteen other Marines died in that crash. The MV-22 was conducting a training mission in support of Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) when it went down near Marana, Ariz. During the mission, the crew and Marines conducted non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercises as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, with Marines embarking and disembarking the aircraft. The mission was conducted at night utilizing night vision goggles and forward-looking infrared radar to enhance night operational capability. Footnote: Summer 2002.In cooperation between the Forest Service and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, a Kiosk memorial is being installed at Fish Lake. Additionally, the Kiosk will be a part of a self-guided educational tour on Fire. Ecology in dry site forests
Identifier
Neely_Ron_North-Cascades_1974
Publication Date
January 2002
Keywords
Smokejumping; Smokejumpers -- United States; National Smokejumper Association; Wildfire fighters; Obituaries
Disciplines
Forest Management
Recommended Citation
National Smokejumper Association, "Smokejumper Obituary: Neely, Ron (North Cascades 1974)" (2002). Smokejumper Obituaries. 1413.
https://dc.ewu.edu/smokejumper_bios/1413
