By: Lucas Reed
Authorities have identified the pilot who tragically lost his life while battling one of the massive wildfires in Eastern Oregon last week. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office announced on Sunday that the pilot was James Bailey Maxwell, a 74-year-old with an extensive flying career spanning over 50 years and approximately 24,000 flight hours, according to a statement from the U.S. Forest Service on Facebook.
Maxwell’s plane went missing on the afternoon of July 25, as multiple aircraft were engaged in efforts to contain the Falls Fire, a large wildfire tearing through Grant and Harney counties. Search and rescue teams discovered the wreckage of his aircraft the following morning in a steep, forested area within the fire zone. The precise location of the crash has not been disclosed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.
As of Sunday, the Falls Fire has expanded to cover approximately 222 square miles (142,307 acres) and is 57% contained. The Forest Service provided no further details about Maxwell’s personal background but noted that he had family in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.
