“But everyone knows this is dangerous work, and even with the right protections and protocols, accidents can happen.”

Struble said Witham’s family in California was making memorial arrangements, and he didn’t know if a service would also take place in Montana. The Vista Grande Hotshot crew has already returned to their base at the San Bernardino National Forest.

“The option was out there to stand down for other crews, but I don’t know if any did,” Struble said. “You want your folks to be able to grieve their way, but the fire keeps burning.”

Hotshot firefighters are among the most highly trained and experienced ground crews in the wildfire force. Working in teams of 20, they exceed the physical fitness and technical skills of most Type I fire crews.

Hotshots are typically qualified to use multiple firefighting tools from hand equipment to chainsaws, pumps, engines and communications gear. They often serve as initial attack forces, hiking into remote fire locations or using helicopters for access.

Witham's death was the second firefighter fatality in two weeks in western Montana. On July 19, 19-year-old Trenton Johnson of Missoula died when he was struck by a tree while preparing to confront a half-acre fire northeast of Seeley Lake.