Captain Hughes was struck by a tree at the Ferguson Fire

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official on-duty death of Captain Brian Hughes, 33, of Sequioa and Kings Canyon National Parks on July 29, 2018.

Captain Brian Hughes and his crew were engaged in tactical fire operations on the east side of the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County, California, when he was struck by a tree. Hughes was treated on scene, but passed away from the injuries he sustained before he could be transported to a hospital.

Tribute is being paid to Captain Hughes at http://apps.usfa.fema.gov/firefighter-fatalities/

To date, 56 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2018. Year-to-date and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ff_fatality_reports.html

Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.