GRANGEVILLE, ID – Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) firefighter Isabella Oscarson, a seasonal employee from Minnesota, died Friday evening after being struck by a falling tree earlier that day while assisting with the U.S. Forest Service’s Tinker Bugs prescribed fire in the Nez Perce–Clearwater National Forests.
Oscarson was evacuated from the scene and flown to Grangeville, where she succumbed to her injuries.
“IDL extends its deepest sympathies to Isabella’s family and friends. This is a tragedy that hits the employees at Idaho Department of Lands and the broader wildland fire community extremely hard,” said Dustin Miller, Director of IDL. “We are heartbroken and doing everything we can to support her family and our staff during this difficult time.”
Service information has not yet been released.
About the Idaho Department of Lands
IDL manages more than 2.5 million acres of endowment trust lands in Idaho to maximize long-term financial returns for public schools and other beneficiaries. IDL also provides fire protection, forestry assistance, and other resource management services to support Idaho’s citizens and lands.
