Watch CBS News

Firefighter Killed On The Job By Falling Tree In Tuolumne County Escorted Home By Convoy

RED BLUFF (AP/CBS13) — A contract wildland firefighter who was killed by a falling tree in California last week has been brought home by a convoy of fellow firefighters.

The convoy escorted the body of Darin Banks, 26, on a long journey Thursday from Modesto to a mortuary in Red Bluff, where he lived.

Firefighters from local agencies saluted along the 200-mile (322-kilometer) route, KRCR-TV reported.

Banks was struck by a dead tree that unexpectedly fell while assigned to a hand crew preparing an area for a prescribed burn in Tuolumne County on May 6, according to Jess R. Wills, president of Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression Inc.

"He leaves behind his 4-year-old son, mother, siblings, grandparents, and great-grandparents," Wills said in a statement.

Firestorm is a Chico-based company that provides fire suppression, prescribed burning and urban fire defense services.

Scheduling of a memorial service was pending. A GoFundMe on behalf of Banks' family had raised more than $29,000 as of Friday.

Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.