This was live video from the Missoula Airport of fallen firefighter Brent Witham as he began his journey home. The recording began at 9:30 a.m. MDT on Monday, August 7. Even though the event is over, you can still view the recorded version.
It showed fallen firefighter Brent Witham arriving at the airport and being transferred from a hearse through an honor guard to a U.S. Forest Service Sherpa aircraft, as hundreds of firefighters and others stood by to honor him.
He is expected to arrive in California at about 3 p.m. PDT at the San Bernardino Air Tanker Base. It is likely that some news outlets in the southern California will carry it live. If you are aware of any that do, please give the details in a comment below.
The U.S. Forest Service released the following information about the arrival in California:
The body of Brent Witham will be transported from Montana to the San Bernardino Air Tanker base on Monday, August 7th, arriving via Forest Service aircraft, about 3:00 p.m. He will receive the honor of a formal escort, the entire trip made up of Forest Service law enforcement and Honor Guard.
The procession route will run from the Tanker Base, west on 3rd ave, south on Tippecanoe past the Forest Service Headquarters, west on Orange Show, and south on Waterman, ending at the Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary at 3520 E Washington St, Colton, CA 92354. You are welcome to view the processional anywhere along the route.
Once at the mortuary, there will be a cordon of honor and another honor guard escort from the hearse into the building.
Mr. Witham was killed in an accident involving a falling tree Wednesday August 2 on the Lolo Peak Fire in the Lolo National Forest in Western Montana. He was a member of the Vista Grande Hotshots, based in Idyllwild, California.
