A memorial ceremony for state firefighter Trampus Haskvitz took place this week on the tenth anniversary of his death. Haskvitz died while fighting the Coal Canyon Fire north of Edgemont in the Black Hills. The fire eventually burned more than 5,000 acres and injured four firefighters.
Jay Wickham is the assistant chief of operations for South Dakota Wildland Fire. He was also Haskvitz’s colleague.
“He had a big, big personality, always smiling and always upbeat.,” he said. “I would say, you know, I'm the older guy here. So, I would say he was a neat kid to be around. He was inspiring. A very good young man.”
Wickham said the memorial is an important opportunity.
“My message from South Dakota Wildland Fire today is, is you know, we said we're never gonna forget Trampus, well how we never forget Trampus, how we honor him and remember him is by learning from this tragedy and preventing it from happening in the future,” he said.
There is a memorial stone and plaque at the spot where Haskvitz died. His family received a replica of the plaque at the memorial ceremony.
