Braden Varney, the son of a fire fighting dozer operator, was just 36 years old, and had been working since the fire broke out Friday night. He was on his way out of the fire area when the rollover happened on the morning of July 14th while battling the Ferguson Fire on the Sierra National Forest, Cal Fire Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney was tragically killed.
At about 8:45 a.m., Air Attack reported seeing the overturned dozer at the end of a dozer line near the Hite Cove trail just south of Marble Point. Braden was pronounced deceased when first responders arrived. https://sierranewsonline.com/dozer-operator-killed-in-rollover-accident-on-ferguson-fire/
Varney was cutting a fire break to prevent the blaze from spreading when his bulldozer rolled over and he was killed. The bulldozer ended up at the bottom of a ravine and rescuers were not able to retrieve Varney's body until late that night.
Gov. Jerry Brown issued a statement on Varney's death, saying he and his wife are deeply saddened. Brown called Varney "a man who dedicated his life to protecting his fellow Californians."
"We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and many colleagues who are mourning this sudden and tragic loss," Brown added.
Flags at the state capitol were ordered lowered to half-staff.
https://www.firerescue1.com/line-of-duty-death/articles/386984018-Calif-firefighter-killed-battling-Ferguson-Fire-near-Yosemite/
https://www.firehouse.com/lodds/news/21013401/ca-firefighter-killed-when-bulldozer-rolls-battling-wildfire-near-yosemite
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