Community shows support as fallen pilot’s remains are escorted to Baker City
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, July 30th, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY – Community members including firefighters of all kinds, law enforcement, emergency services personnel, and area residents gathered along East Main/Highway 26 in John Day on Tuesday, as the remains of fallen tanker pilot James Bailey Maxwell were escorted out of town and transported to Baker City.
Maxwell was piloting a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) in the vicinity of the Falls Fire on Thursday, July 25th, when it went down over southern Grant County. Officials with the U.S. Forest Service did not know Maxwell’s hometown, nor has it been released where his final resting place will be. The procession began at Driskill Memorial Chapel in John Day.
Click the link below to see video coverage of the procession in John Day:
Find a press release from the Malheur National Forest below:
(Released by the Malheur National Forest)
The wildland firefighting community is mourning the loss of one of their own. The Grant County Sheriff has confirmed that single engine air tanker pilot James Bailey Maxwell, 74, died while working in the vicinity of the Falls Fire on July 25, 2024. James was an experienced pilot who had spent 54 years of his life flying and who had logged approximately 24,000 hours of flight time. He is survived by and will be missed by family members in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
A single engine airtanker, or SEAT, is the smallest airtanker in the fire suppression fleet. These highly-maneuverable aircraft can deliver up to 800 gallons of fire retardant or water to wildland firefighters on the ground.
The Maxwell family and firefighters are grateful for the support being expressed throughout the community and online. Services have not been announced at this time and the family asks for privacy while they mourn.
