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Memorial Honors Firefighter Killed In Montana

Firefighter Brent Witham, who died while on the job in Montana last week, was honored during an August 10 memorial in San Bernardio. This is a screen capture from the live stream of the memorial.
Courtesy CalfireTV
Firefighter Brent Witham, who died while on the job in Montana last week, was honored during an August 10 memorial in San Bernardio. This is a screen capture from the live stream of the memorial.

An elite 29-year-old firefighter who died in Montana last week was remembered Thursday for his infectious sense of humor, his love of the outdoors and even the joy he took from a good round of the "Call of Duty" video game series.

But nearly everyone who spoke at Brent Witham’s public memorial service in San Bernardino, California, also mentioned his unrelenting work ethic.

Here, Forest Service Commander Rita Wears reads a portion of Witham’s eulogy that was written by his uncle:

“His goal was to be the superintendent of Vista Grande one day. Remember that he loved both his biological family and his firefighting family. And he loved the Forest Service. Brent died doing what he loved – fighting fires.”

Brent Witham was a member of the respected California-based Vista Grande Hotshot crew. He was killed August second while felling trees on the Lolo Peak Fire.

Copyright 2020 Montana Public Radio. To see more, visit Montana Public Radio.

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Edward O'Brien is Montana Public Radio's Associate News Director.