Governor Gordon has ordered flags to fly at half staff on Friday, June 11, honoring the Cody man who died of injuries sustained in a New Mexico wildfire.
On Monday, June 7, Governor Mark Gordon announced that the U.S. and Wyoming State Flags be flown at half-staff statewide from sunrise to sunset on Friday, June 11. This is in recognition of Tim Hart, a Cody resident and wildland firefighter.
Tim Hart, 36, was a smokejumper working with the West Yellowstone Smokejumpers based in Montana’s Custer Gallatin National Forest. He had been a wildland firefighter since 2006, working in North Carolina, Arizona, Oregon, Wyoming, and Nevada.
Hart took a hard fall during a smoke jump to combat the Eicks Wildfire in southern New Mexico. He passed away at an El Paso Hospital on Wednesday, June 2.
“Our hearts go out to Tim’s family, loved ones, friends, fellow Forest Service employees, and the entire wildland fire community, and I ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this time of sorrow while respecting the family’s privacy,” Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen said in a statement.
Hart returned to Cody on Sunday, June 6. He was escorted to Ballard Funeral Home by first responders from across the Bighorn Basin.
Hundreds of Cody residents lined 17th Street during the procession, extending their condolences to Hart and his wife.
The Hart Family thanks the entire Cody community “for your respect and support during Tim’s homecoming procession.”
Governor Gordon issued the following statement to accompany the announcement:
“Jennie and I send our deepest condolences to Tim’s family. We acknowledge the commitment of the men and women who fight fires wherever they are needed around the country, and we pray tragedies such as this one never occur. The loss of a firefighter impacts the entire community of firefighters and first responders, as well as the community in which they live. Wyoming grieves the loss of this fine individual, and we are grateful for his service to the state and our country.”
