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Lillie May Patten
Monica Lee Zajanc

Three U.S. Forest Service firefighters and a contracted pilot were killed on August 13, 2006, in the crash of a helicopter on the Payette National Forest, 100 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. The firefighters were Lillie May Patten, Monica Lee Zajanc, and Michael Gene Lewis. The pilot of the helicopter, Quin Stone, an employee of Evergreen Helicopter Inc., was also killed.

Zajanc, who was 27, was a seven-year veteran of wildland firefighting, having started on an engine crew on the Boise National Forest. She became a helicopter crew member on the Payette N.F. in 2004.

Patten, 32, was a seasonal employee who had worked as a lookout on the Krassel Ranger District for the past six seasons.

The helicopter was enroute to a guard station near the South Fork fire complex when it apparently nose-dived into an access road. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and the incident was under investigation.

Condolences may be sent to the following addresses:

Payette National Forest
Krassel Ranger District
800 W Lakeside Avenue
McCall, ID 83638-3602

For Monica Zajanc:
Palisades Ranger District
Attn: Larry Zajanc
3659 East Ririe Highway
Idaho Falls, ID 83401

For Lillian Patten:
David and Suzanne Tufenkian
c/o Linda Goodman
US Forest Service
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, OR 97208-3623

Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Wildland Firefighters Foundation in Monica’s or Lillian's name at wffoundation.org or by phone to 208/336-2996.

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