He was a U.S. Forest Service firefighter that suffered burns when his engine crew was overrun by the arson-set Esperanza wildfire in Southern California. He was burned over 90 percent of his body on Thursday October 26th as he and the crew of Engine 57 tried to protect a home from wind-driven flames in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County, 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Three other crew members died at the scene and the crew's captain died soon after at a hospital. Pablo underwent extensive removal of damaged skin in an operation but was given a poor prognosis. He was in his second year of fighting fires for the Forest Service. He had planned to begin studying to become a paramedic. The other victims were the engine captain, Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild; Jason McKay, 27, of Apple Valley; Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto. The Esperanza wildfire started early on Thursday October 26th and scorched 40,200 acres, or more than 60 square miles, of forest and brush before being fully contained Monday October 30th. It destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings.
Pablo aged 23, of Fountain Valley died at 5:08 p.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.
Pablo aged 23, of Fountain Valley died at 5:08 p.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.
He was a U.S. Forest Service firefighter that suffered burns when his engine crew was overrun by the arson-set Esperanza wildfire in Southern California. He was burned over 90 percent of his body on Thursday October 26th as he and the crew of Engine 57 tried to protect a home from wind-driven flames in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County, 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Three other crew members died at the scene and the crew's captain died soon after at a hospital. Pablo underwent extensive removal of damaged skin in an operation but was given a poor prognosis. He was in his second year of fighting fires for the Forest Service. He had planned to begin studying to become a paramedic. The other victims were the engine captain, Mark Loutzenhiser, 43, of Idyllwild; Jason McKay, 27, of Apple Valley; Jess McLean, 27, of Beaumont; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, of San Jacinto. The Esperanza wildfire started early on Thursday October 26th and scorched 40,200 acres, or more than 60 square miles, of forest and brush before being fully contained Monday October 30th. It destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings.
Pablo aged 23, of Fountain Valley died at 5:08 p.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.
Pablo aged 23, of Fountain Valley died at 5:08 p.m. at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton.
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