Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at half-staff Tuesday in honor of Jesús Eduardo Olimpo Gutiérrez Toral, a firefighter who died Sept. 9 while battling the Austin fire in Mount Hood National Forest.
Gutiérrez Toral, 25, worked as a tree faller (sawyer) and wildland firefighter in both Oregon and Washington, officials said. His family resides in Springfield, Oregon, and in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, México.
“On behalf of all Oregonians, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Gutiérrez Toral’s family, loved ones, and colleagues,” Kotek said. “Mr. Gutiérrez Toral gave his life in service of the communities he helped to protect. His courage and selflessness remind us of the extraordinary risks firefighters face so that others may be safe. We honor the empty place at the table that his passing leaves behind.”
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