Randy Lupe died after a medical emergency on August 23 while working as a wildland fire support crew member fighting the Frijoles Fire, which has burned more than 15,000 acres in the Santa Fe National Forest.
Lupe, 62, is from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, according to a release on Tuesday from the U.S. Department of Interior.
U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy expressed sadness for Lupe’s death in a statement. “Every member of our wildland fire workforce plays a vital role in our emergency response efforts,” he said. “And this loss is felt across the entire wildland fire community.”
The actual cause of the medical issue that led to his death has not been released, and it is unclear if Lupe had any medical evaluation before his assignment to the forest fire. The Frijoles Fire was ignited by lightning on Aug. 4 in the Northern New Mexico mountains. Lupe reportedly started work his assignment on Aug. 11, according to a post he made on social media.
According to the latest fire mapping updates, the Frijoles Fire has burned 15,226 acres and is 54% contained.
