Fallen LV firefighter loved his work

Jace Radke

Monday, Aug. 7, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

When Lee Nelson needed something done on the fire line on a helicopter crew, he turned to Phil Conner, because he knew the big firefighter loved his job and worked hard at it.

"A good way to describe Phil is that he was like Hoss Cartwright from 'Bonanza,' " Nelson, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter and crew boss, said. "He was a big guy with a big heart."

Conner, 29, was killed Thursday as the helicopter he was in crashed while taking off at a fire helibase near Wells, in northeastern Nevada. Conner was among the firefighters battling the Charlie fire in Elko County, which is part of a complex of four fires that have burned over 8,100 acres.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of the Bell 206 helicopter as it lifted off to carry water and supplies to the Charlie fire.

The other three men inside the helicopter all survived the crash, National Park Service officials said.

Conner, known as Pip to his fellow firefighters with the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Wildland fire crew, was a graduate of Chaparral High School and a Las Vegas resident.

Conner was a member of the Las Vegas Interagency Helitak Team, but didn't get into the air all that often, Nelson said.

"He was a big guy, so we didn't always get him up there," Nelson said. "He was very religious and loved fighting wildland fires. Phil is an example of how someone should be, and how to live your life respecting others. He taught me a lot."

Funeral services for Conner will be held at noon Tuesday at the Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Road in Henderson. Interment will be at the Veteran's Cemetery in Boulder City following the funeral.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to either the Central Christian Church youth and scholarship fund for camp and missions, or the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Emergency Services Donation account.