Idaho wildfire fighter struck by tree is recovering in Denver hospital

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — U.S. Forest Service firefighter Justin “Riley” Shaw has been transferred to a Denver hospital, while recovering from a traumatic brain injury he suffered while battling a wildfire in Idaho. 

Shaw, 26, was struck by a tree the night of Aug. 10 during initial attack operations on the Coffee Can Saddle Fire in Idaho’s Salmon River Ranger District, according to a news release from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest. 

Shaw is an assistant crew foreman for the Salmon River Ranger District.

He has been transported by air ambulance to PAM Health Denver, a post-acute medical hospital, where he will continue recovering and preparing for a long rehabilitation with Craig Hospital in Denver, Shaw’s parents Joe and Dawn Shaw said in a statement Wednesday.

Shaw’s parents thanked Shaw’s crew, fellow firefighters, the U.S. Forest Service, medical staff and people who have written to them and donated to Shaw’s recovery GoFundMe for their support.

“Thank you to all the prayer warriors out there lifting Justin and our family up in prayer. You have really come through when he was not medically stable and had pneumonia,” Shaw’s parents said in a statement. “Please continue to pray for his recovery. We are so thankful for you.”

Craig Hospital, a “world-renowned rehabilitation hospital,” specializes in neurorehabilitation and research for people with spinal cord and brain injury, the statement said. 

Shaw was initially transported via Life Flight to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston before being transported to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. 

Ways to support

A GoFundMe, set up by Shaw’s family, has raised over $100,000 toward its $125,000 goal as of midday Thursday.

Cards or letters of encouragement can be emailed to Justinshawrecovery@gmail.com, or mailed to: 

Justin Shaw                                                     

5365 Wangaratta Way                          

Littleton, CO 80130

Or

Slate Creek Ranger Station

304 Slate Creek Road

White Bird, ID 83554