On May 24, 2021, resources responded to a fire on private land seven miles north of the United States-Mexico border in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. During a late afternoon fire jump, smokejumper Tim Hart landed on a rocky slope at the base of a ravine. Tim’s injuries were severe, and despite immediate care from emergency medical technicians and a well-coordinated air ambulance response, he passed away on June 2, 2021.

Tim was a smokejumper from the West Yellowstone jump base with six years of smokejumper experience. He was a base squad leader and a qualified incident commander Type 3.

To better understand the conditions leading up to Tim’s death and to prevent future accidents, the Forest Service is conducting a Coordinated Response Protocol Learning Review. This learning review includes a technical report that reviews the background of area fire management and walks through the day’s events from the perspective of individuals involved in the Eicks Fire. This technical report is now complete and available on the Wildfire Today website.