I got a sick feeling in my gut as soon as I had heard the news report that four U.S. Forest Service firefighters were killed while trying to put out a large wildfire in Washington State...
I felt unsettled and uneasy, and I remember saying a brief prayer for the family members who were surely devastated by this tragedy.
This was on July 11, 2001. For on July 10th, those four firefighters lost their lives, and it wasn't until the next day that the news media from around the world began to report on this event in ever-increasing intensity.
As more detailed reports began to come in, the public began to realize that some of these firefighters were amazingly young. Their ages were 18, 19, 23 and 30. And then their names were announced. When I heard the name Karen Lee Fitzpatrick, age 18, from Yakima, Washington, I knew. My dear friends lost their daughter. Karen Lee Fitzpatrick was a devout Christian. Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 5:8. She was a beautiful, vibrant, athletic, and a full of the love of God girl.
I immediately wrote to my friends. I did what I could from more than 3,000 miles away to offer some words of encouragement. Now, even after almost a year, their faith is still strong. Having to answer Kathie Fitzpatrick's last letter (see yesterday's journal entry) made me relive this.
This was on July 11, 2001. For on July 10th, those four firefighters lost their lives, and it wasn't until the next day that the news media from around the world began to report on this event in ever-increasing intensity.
As more detailed reports began to come in, the public began to realize that some of these firefighters were amazingly young. Their ages were 18, 19, 23 and 30. And then their names were announced. When I heard the name Karen Lee Fitzpatrick, age 18, from Yakima, Washington, I knew. My dear friends lost their daughter. Karen Lee Fitzpatrick was a devout Christian. Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 5:8. She was a beautiful, vibrant, athletic, and a full of the love of God girl.
I immediately wrote to my friends. I did what I could from more than 3,000 miles away to offer some words of encouragement. Now, even after almost a year, their faith is still strong. Having to answer Kathie Fitzpatrick's last letter (see yesterday's journal entry) made me relive this.
If anyone would like to read about the Thirty-mile Fire and about Karen Lee Fitzpatrick, whose life has been and still is an inspiration to so many, you can click the image below to order her book:
D.B.