Fallen BLM firefighters from Lake Tahoe and Reno
A single-vehicle fatal crash Sunday that took the lives of two Bureau of Land Management firefighters involves one from the Zephyr Cove area at Lake Tahoe and the other from Reno. One other BLM firefighter was injured.
According to the BLM, the driver of the BLM fire truck was 27-year-old Jacob O'Malley of Zephyr Cove. The right front passenger was 22-year-old Will Hawkins of Reno. Both men died in the crash. NHP said the third man, 23-year-old Zachery McElroy of Reno was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center by helicopter with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Sunday evening, the firefighters were returning to Winnemucca after looking for lightning-sparked wildfires in Northern Nevada. The Nevada Highway Patrol said tire failure may have caused the crash near the junction of State Highway 140 and U.S. 95.
A procession was held Monday for the fallen firefighters, escorted from Winnemucca to Reno.
"Our hearts are heavy, but our focus, our thoughts, and our prayers are with the families of these extraordinary brave people who served to protect the people of Nevada and the public lands that belong to all of us," said Nevada BLM State Communications Chief Steve Clutter.