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Oregon Firefighter Loses Home to Fire
(AP) ROGUE RIVER, Ore.
Nine months after surviving a helicopter crash in Northern California that killed seven comrades, 21-year-old firefighter Michael Brown has lost his home to a fire.
The Saturday blaze heavily damaged his family's two-story Rogue River home and destroyed nearly everything inside, The Daily Courier of Grants Pass reports.
"It seems like I've already got the weight of the world on my shoulders, with bad luck," he said. "It's like somebody or something is always trying to get me."
Brown suffered two broken cheekbones, a broken nose, a dislocated jaw and a concussion in an Aug. 5 helicopter crash that killed nine of the 13 people on board. The helicopter was ferrying Grayback Forestry firefighters into the Iron 44 Complex wildfire in northern California when it slammed into the ground.
On Saturday night, Brown was at a gathering in Boise, Idaho, for victims of wildland fire accidents when the fire broke out at his family's home.
Grayback Forestry is seeking donations to help Brown and his family, and it has established the Michael Brown Recovery Fund through the SOFCU Community Credit Union.
The Browns' neighbor Frank Meyers said he saw flames, prompting him to pound on the family's door and alert them.
The fire started on a wooden deck behind the house, said investigators who haven't identified what caused the blaze but have ruled out arson.
The Browns said they are staying with a relative.
Michael Brown remains in physical therapy and counseling for the trauma suffered in August. He and Grayback's two other survivors from the crash plan to continue firefighting, said Jesse Kiene of Grayback.
"He's a grown man, so he can make that decision," said Brown's mother, Carol McFadden. "I'd rather see him delivering mail or something."
The fourth survivor of the crash is Bill Coultas of Cave Juntions, who was the helicopter's co-pilot. He suffered severe burns and said he's at least nine months from flying again.
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Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Nine months after surviving a helicopter crash in Northern California that killed seven comrades, 21-year-old firefighter Michael Brown has lost his home to a fire.
The Saturday blaze heavily damaged his family's two-story Rogue River home and destroyed nearly everything inside, The Daily Courier of Grants Pass reports.
"It seems like I've already got the weight of the world on my shoulders, with bad luck," he said. "It's like somebody or something is always trying to get me."
Brown suffered two broken cheekbones, a broken nose, a dislocated jaw and a concussion in an Aug. 5 helicopter crash that killed nine of the 13 people on board. The helicopter was ferrying Grayback Forestry firefighters into the Iron 44 Complex wildfire in northern California when it slammed into the ground.
On Saturday night, Brown was at a gathering in Boise, Idaho, for victims of wildland fire accidents when the fire broke out at his family's home.
Grayback Forestry is seeking donations to help Brown and his family, and it has established the Michael Brown Recovery Fund through the SOFCU Community Credit Union.
The Browns' neighbor Frank Meyers said he saw flames, prompting him to pound on the family's door and alert them.
The fire started on a wooden deck behind the house, said investigators who haven't identified what caused the blaze but have ruled out arson.
The Browns said they are staying with a relative.
Michael Brown remains in physical therapy and counseling for the trauma suffered in August. He and Grayback's two other survivors from the crash plan to continue firefighting, said Jesse Kiene of Grayback.
"He's a grown man, so he can make that decision," said Brown's mother, Carol McFadden. "I'd rather see him delivering mail or something."
The fourth survivor of the crash is Bill Coultas of Cave Juntions, who was the helicopter's co-pilot. He suffered severe burns and said he's at least nine months from flying again.
___
Information from: Daily Courier, http://www.thedailycourier.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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