United States Fire Administration
27 August 2026
EMMITSBURG, Md. — The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has announced the on-duty death of Camp Crewmember Randy Lupe, 62, of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service – Southwest on 23 August 2026.
Camp Crewmember Randy Lupe passed away after suffering a medical emergency while working the Frijoles Fire in northern New Mexico.
Age: 62
Rank: Camp Crewmember
Classification: Wildland Part-Time
Incident date: Aug. 23, 2026 9:37 AM
Date of death: Aug. 23, 2026
Cause of fatal injury: Unknown
Nature of fatal injury: Unknown
Activity type: Advance Hose Lines/Fire Attack (includes Wildland)
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Fire
Fixed property use: Outdoor Property
The number of on-duty deaths for 2026 is currently 59.
Go here to read the number of interior line of duty deaths for 2026.
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.”
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Data Not Drama 