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NIFC Jumper Killed On Training Jump

by Chuck Sheley |

The Idaho Statesman and Wildfire Today's website are reporting that a Boise Bureau of Land Management smokejumper died Friday afternoon (Sept. 27, 2013)in an accident near Prairie, Idaho:

Mark T. Urban, 40, was killed after his parachute failed to properly deploy during a training jump.

A serious accident investigation team is being assembled in Boise and will begin their work over the weekend, said National Interagency Fire Center spokesperson Don Smurthwaite.

This is the first fatality of an Idaho smokejumper this year and possibly the first line-of-duty death of a BLM Idaho smokejumper.

Preliminary information from the BLM indicated that he was conducting a research and development jump using a new device to designed to assist in deploying the canopy.

He had been a jumper for 10 years.

Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. Urban’s family and co-workers.