Kathy Shoopman, a firefighter, died at her home in Northern California as a result of the McKinney fire. Photo courtesy Klamath National Forest.
Shoopman was at home at the time of the death
Kathy Shoopman, the longtime fire warden, died at her home in the Klamath River community in the McKinney fire in Northern California, the first of four publicly identified victims.
“It is with great sadness that we have to announce that the Klamath National Forest has lost one of its own. The beloved Kathy Shoopman has passed away on the eve of the Klamath National Forest. Kathy passed away at her home in the community of Klamath River as a result of the McKinney Fire,” the Klamath National Forest announced Monday morning on its Facebook page.
U.S. Forest Service officials did not offer details about how Shoopman died. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment on his death.
As of Monday morning, the Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page that four people had died as a result of the fire, although investigators are still working to determine if there are more fatalities. The Sheriff’s Office did not identify any of the four.
The Klamath River community, where Shoopman lived, has been hit hard by the fire.
Klamath National Forest officials said Shoopman began his career at Baldy Mountain Lookout in 1974. He later staffed Lake Mountain Lookout and most recently staffed Buckhorn Lookout, a position he has held since from 1993.
Born in 1948, Shoopman lived in the Klamath River community for nearly five decades. She was a gardener, a talented artist and an animal lover, Forest Service officials said.
“We share this sadness with each and every one of you, and know that individually and as the supportive community that we are, we will find many ways to honor Kathy’s life and service and keep her spirit alive in all of our lives.” Forest Service officials said.
Of the 274 structures inspected Friday, the McKinney Fire has destroyed at least 87 homes and 47 structures such as garages and commercial buildings, according to an initial assessment by the Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Management.
The initial damage assessment was about halfway done at the time of Friday’s report, the office said.
As of Monday morning, the McKinney Fire was 60,379 acres and 40 percent contained.
Contact Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. follow her Twitter @VickieAldous.
