KAMIAH, ID — Forest Service wildland firefighter Justin Shaw has returned home to Idaho after spending more than 16 months recovering from severe injuries sustained while battling a wildfire in 2024.

According to the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Shaw was injured on August 10, 2024, when he was struck by a falling tree during initial attack operations on a wildfire on the Salmon River Ranger District. The incident left Shaw requiring six surgeries and 492 days of rehabilitation spent in hospitals or care facilities.

Shaw’s return to Idaho marked the first time he had been home since the accident. On December 15, 2025, family, friends, and fellow firefighters gathered at Boise Airport to welcome him back. Boise Fire and Police departments provided an escort from the airport terminal to the Shaw family’s home in Boise.

Forest Supervisor Jonathan Word thanked multiple agencies and organizations that assisted during Shaw’s recovery, including local emergency services, Forest Service Care Teams, and nonprofit organizations that supported the family throughout the lengthy rehabilitation process.

While Shaw continues to face a long road to recovery, officials said returning home allows him to continue healing while surrounded by family and community support.

The Forest Service noted that wildland firefighters regularly respond to dangerous and unpredictable emergencies, emphasizing the shared goal across the fire community of ensuring firefighters return safely to their loved ones. Shaw’s homecoming, officials said, marked the end of what they described as a very long shift for both him and his family.