Kathy Shoopman’s first posting was in 1974 at Baldy Mountain Lookout in the Klamath National Forest, just west of the small town of Happy Camp, a statement from the U.S. Forest Service said. He went on to staff the Buckhorn and Lake Mountain outposts. For nearly 50 years, Shoopman lived in Klamath River (pop. 200), a town that was almost completely destroyed by fire. Homes, including those in a trailer park, a community hall and a few other businesses were destroyed. “This fire came into the community with 60 to 70 mph winds coming at it,” said Tom Stockberry, the U.S. Forest Service’s northern fire operations specialist. “We share this grief with each 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,” The Forestry service said in a Facebook post honoring Shoopman. Landscape of the Klamath National Forest, near Mount Shasta in California. Leonid Andronov/Getty Images/iStockphoto Stokesberry said it is his understanding that Shoopman was trying to evacuate when she died, but the circumstances of her death are still under investigation. “When the fire made its initial push, it was caught in her house,” Stokesberry said. Observers work in shifts on towers located on high peaks and towering over forested areas at risk of wildfires. Their job is to spot fires when they first start and are small and easy to put out. “She was one of the best,” Stokesberry said. “He is a legend in the vigilante community. Not only was he able to identify the fires, but he could locate them with pinpoint accuracy.” Landscape of the Klamath National Forest, near Mount Shasta in California. Zack Frank/Getty Images/500px The McKinney fire, now the state’s largest this year, ignited near the California-Oregon border on July 29, quickly erupting into a raging monster that killed four people, including Shoopman. It destroyed more than 100 homes as it tore through 60,379 acres. contained by 40% from Monday.
