USFA On-Duty Death: Arizona

United States Fire Administration
21 July 2021

EMMITSBURG, Maryland – The United States Fire Administration has announced the death of Air Attack Pilot Matthew Robert Miller, 48, of Falcon Executive Aviation, Inc. on 10 July 2021.

On Saturday, July 10, 2021, Air Tactical Group Supervisor Jeff Piechura and Air Attack Pilot Matthew Robert Miller were aboard a Beechcraft King Air C-90 conducting visual reconnaissance and aviation command and control over the Cedar Basin Fire near Wikieup, Arizona when the aircraft crashed. Both individuals perished in the accident.

Age: 48
Rank: Air Attack Pilot
Classification: Wildland Contract
Incident date: July 10, 2021 12:50 p.m.
Date of death: July 10, 2021
Cause of death: Vehicle Collision – Includes Aircraft
Nature of death: Trauma
Activity type: Driving/Operating Vehicle/Apparatus
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property

The number of on-duty deaths for 2021 currently is 60.

Fatality status is provisional and may change as USFA contacts State Fire Marshals to verify fatality incident information.

For more information about on-duty deaths as recorded by the United States Fire Administration go to “Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.”