Overview
- Federal officials identified the likely victim as David Taylor, 38, of Scio, Oregon, and said evidence recovered from a residence shows he died while helping a family evacuate.
- Formal identification by the medical examiner remains pending and federal law enforcement has joined investigators examining the fire's cause and the circumstances of Taylor’s death.
- Local authorities reported the Railroad South Fire was under control and lifted evacuation orders after burning between Cache and Indiahoma and destroying five homes.
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs took command of suppression with support from local, state, federal, and tribal crews who continued securing hot spots and protecting structures.
- Taylor served about 20 years in the U.S. Navy including Reserve service as a senior chief petty officer and worked at several national wildlife refuges, a background officials said shaped his public service and community role.