Firefighter dies while fighting blaze near South Lake Tahoe

8:00 p.m. update 8/9/15

The 21 year-old firefighter who died in Saturday evening as he was working on the Sierra Fire has been identified as Michael Hallenbeck of Shingle Springs, CA.

Hallenbeck was a member of Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) Organized Crew 36.

“Our hearts go out to the family, friends and fellow crewmembers of this brave firefighter,” said U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Regional Forester Randy Moore. “The loss of any member of our Forest Service family is a tragedy. The grief we are feeling at the sudden loss of two of our firefighters; Dave Ruhl last week on the Modoc National Forest and now Mike Hallenbeck on the Basin, reminds us of the sacrifices these men and women make every day.”

Hallenbeck was struck by a tree at approximately 5:30 p.m. during the initial attack on the Sierra Fire, just inside the LTBMU boundary south of Echo Summit. Efforts to resuscitate Hallenbeck were not successful.

Michael's family released this statement:

“Mikey was so excited to become a firefighter. When he first found out he had the position, he spent every day hiking with a pack to prepare. Mikey loved the outdoors and sports. He played football, basketball, soccer, ice hockey, tennis and golf. He also loved to snowboard and hike. He spent the last two ski seasons working for Sierra Ski Resort. Now he has had a greater calling. We are so very proud he stepped up to work hard and be brave to put others before himself. We cannot even begin to express the pain our family is going through and weask for the respect of our privacy as we go through this devastating ordeal.

The Sierra Fire is one of several dozen lightning-caused fires that began on multiple National Forests in Northern California on Saturday.

11 a.m. update 8/9/15:

The Sierra Fire burning in the forest south of Echo Summit remains a very small one, less than an acre in size. It did not grow overnight and crews are on the scene. It is a 20 to 30 minute walk to the fire from Sierra at Tahoe.

A wildland firefighter was killed on the initial fire attack when a tree fell on him. His identity has not yet been released. The U.S.Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will be providing information after the family has been properly notified, most likely Sunday afternoon.

What is known is he was a 21-year-old male, according to the El Dorado County Coroner's Office.

"We are having a rough morning," said Cheva Gabor, Public and Legislative Affairs Officer for LTBMU. "We are working with the Sheriff's Office on notification of the family."

9 a.m. 8/9/15:

A U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter died Saturday night while fighting one of the several small lightning caused fires in the Sierra. At approximately 5:30 p.m. he was struck by a tree during the initial firefighting efforts on the "Sierra Fire."

The fire was in a remote area between the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Eldorado National Forest in the area of Sierra-at-Tahoe.

A second firefighter was injured fighting the same fire. He has been treated and released from the hospital.

A press release sent out at midnight did not release the firefighter's name or age. A call into authorities Sunday morning said news about both the firefighters and status of the small fires will be released today.