Second Nevadan dies fighting fires

Monday, Aug. 14, 2000 | 11:34 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Jace Radke contributed to this report.

Efforts to quench Western wildfires turned deadly again on Sunday as a helicopter pilot was killed when his chopper crashed east of Fallon -- Nevada's second helicopter death in 10 days and the nation's eighth firefighting fatality this year.

The pilot, identified as Lester Shadrick, 53, was working on the Twin Peaks blaze that has consumed 37,770 acres 50 miles east of Fallon. That fire is 30 percent contained with 350 people battling the blaze, officials said.

An employee of ERA Helicopters at the Reno-Stead Airport, Shadrick was from Lake Charles, La., Bureau of Land Management officials said. The accident occurred about 4:45 p.m., but details were not available because it occurred in a remote area.

Meanwhile, firefighters advanced on blazes burning in the scenic Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana, but a new fire near Yellowstone National Park exploded in size.

Evacuations orders remained in effect for about 1,400 households in the Bitterroot Valley, and ranchers near the new fire were warned they may have to flee.

There were 82 fires burning in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, federal officials said this morning. Those blazes had blackened about 920,000 acres.

Hundreds of evacuees were allowed to return home Sunday as a few days of cooler weather allowed firefighters to gain the upper hand on two wildfires. More than 500 soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, were sent to help with fires near Missoula, where wind fanned flames that have burned a total of 12,400 acres.

The new Yellowstone fire, in southern Montana, grew from 80 acres to 3,500 on Sunday as strong winds fanned the flames.

Firefighters in Southern Nevada contained the Trout Canyon fire in the Spring Mountains by 6 p.m. Friday. The 117 remaining firefighters are mopping up, cooling hot spots and building erosion controls.

Elsewhere in Nevada, the O'Neil complex fires were 95 percent contained, and the team fighting them since the first of the month was scheduled to get some much needed rest starting tonight.

That fire is where Phillip Conner, 29, was killed Aug. 3 in a helicopter crash. It remains the largest wildland fire in the state. Sun reporter