Tahoe ski resort honors fallen Forest Service firefighter, employee with candlelight vigil
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 08/10/2015 - 5:47pm
Sierra-at-Tahoe will hold a candlelight vigil Wednesday for Michael Hallenbeck of Shingle Springs, Calif. The 21-year old U.S. Forest Service firefighter died Saturday fighting a lightning-caused fire south of Echo Summit.
Known by friends and family as Mikey, Hallenbeck was a Sierra-at-Tahoe employee for the past two seasons and a local firefighter.
“His flame burned bright,” Sierra Resort said in statement. “Thank you for your brave, courageous soul.” Hallenbeck is considered a local hero who could “make tons of people smile or laugh,” and died doing what he loved to do."
Hallenbeck's family released the following statement: "Mikey was so excited to become a firefighter. When he first found out he had the position, he spent every day hiking with a pack to prepare. Mikey loved the outdoors and sports. He played football, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, tennis and golf. He also loved to snowboard and hike. He spent the last two ski seasons working for Sierra Ski Resort. Now he has had a greater calling. We are so very proud he stepped up to work hard and be brave to put others before himself. We cannot even begin to express the pain our family is going through and we ask for the respect of our privacy as we go through this devastating ordeal."
During the 2015-16 winter season, an organized “Ride for Mikey” will take place on the slopes of Sierra.
Candles for the vigil will be lit at sunset, Wednesday, August 12 at 7 p.m., on the Solstice Plaza in the base area of Sierra-at-Tahoe. All Sierra family and friends of Michael Hallenbeck are encouraged to attend. Candles will be provided.
Hallenbeck died Saturday from injuries received while suppressing the wildfire. He was struck by a tree at approximately 5:30 p.m. during the initial attack on the Sierra Fire, just inside the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit boundary south of Echo Summit. A second firefighter was also hurt, was treated for his injuries and released.
Michael Hallenbeck is the second Forest Service firefighter in California to die this season. On July 30, David Ruhl of Rapid City, South Dakota was killed by a wildfire in Northern California as he scouted the area and became trapped by the wind-stoked blaze, according to the Forest Service.
Ruhl, 38, had been on temporary assignment since June in California, where he was an assistant fire management officer for the Big Valley Ranger District of the Modoc National Forest.
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