Matthew Beck - Inmate Firefighter Fatality - California

Matthew Beck

Inmate Firefighter Matthew Beck, age 26, died in the line of duty on May 25, 2017, in the Hoopla Valley area of Humboldt County, California.

Matthew was a member of the Inmate firefighter program in California. He was assigned to the Alder Conservation Camp in Del Norte County. He had 3 years of service with the Program.

Humboldt County is about 300 miles north of San Francisco.

Matthew was leading a fire crew trying to clear brush to contain a wildland fire. He was operating a chainsaw and likely did not hear that a nearby tree was uprooting and falling. The tree struck Matthew and he sustained serious head, neck and back wounds.

Tragically, before medical responders could get to him, Matthew died of his injuries.

Florian, Patron Saint of
Firefighters, pray for
Matthew and for those
who have lost him. 

Matthew was a prison inmate. He had been sentenced in May of 2014 to six years in prison for a burglary in Los Angeles County.

Just under 4,000 prison inmates in California volunteer to fight wildfires.

Let him who is without sin among us be the first to cast a stone.

The members of the inmate firefighting program in California are in mourning over the death of their young brother. Matthew was trying to make a change in his life. He will be forever remembered.

Matthew's loved ones are devastated over his sudden and tragic death. He was loved. He will be forever mourned.

Matthew is survived by many loving friends and family members who will forever miss him.

Thank you for your service to the community, Matthew.

Pray for all who die in the line of duty.

Pray for all who are trying to make a change in their lives.

Pray for all who die young. They barely had a chance to live.

Pray for all who die by misadventure. They are with us one moment and are gone before we can say goodbye.

Pray that Matthew is in Heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.