Firefighter injured saving hikers

One of the U.S. Forest Service firefighters entrapped by the Thirty Mile fire on July 10 risked her own life to save two hikers from certain death. Rebecca Welch, 22, was attempting to escape the fire's advance, along with 20 other firefighters from the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, when she encountered Bruce and Paula Hagemeyer.

The two had been camping in the area when they saw the smoke from the blaze and attempted to hike out. They met up with the firefighters, wo were retreating in their direction, and realized they had been cut off. As the firefighters deployed their emergency shelters, Welch brought the Hagemeyers into hers.

The shelters are normally used by one person, and can fit two when absolutely necessary. With three people in it, the tent could not be completely secured, and Welch received second-degree burns to her right side as a result, according to local news accounts. The physician who treated Welch described her actions as "heroic." "There's no doubt about it at all. We would have died," Bruce Hagemeyer said.

Four of Welch's co-workers -- Tom Craven, Karen FitzPatrick, Jessica Johnson, and DevinWeaver -- died in the fire. Their bodies were found the following day.