Authorities have identified the air tanker pilot who died last week while attempting to fight one of a series of large wildfires across Eastern Oregon.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that the pilot was James Bailey Maxwell. The 74-year-old flew approximately 24,000 hours during his more than five decades of flying professionally, according to a U.S. Forest Service statement on Facebook.
James Bailey Maxwell, 74, is confirmed by the Grant County Sheriff as the pilot who was killed in a tanker plane crash near Seneca, Ore., while fighting the Falls Fire on July 25, 2024.
Courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service – Malheur National Forest
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Search and rescue teams located the wreckage of Maxwell’s plane the morning of July 26. He had gone missing the previous afternoon, as many aircraft were attempting to get control of the Falls Fire, a megafire blazing through large swaths of Grant and Harney counties.
Firefighting pilot killed in tanker plane crash in Eastern Oregon
His plane was found in a steep, forested area of the fire. The exact location has not been made public. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash.
As of Sunday, the Falls Fire has grown to cover an area of about 222 square miles (142,307 acres), but is now 57% contained.
The Forest Service did not release more details about Maxwell’s background, but said he had family in Oregon, Idaho and Washington.
On Sunday at 11:24 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a special weather statement until 3 p.m. for Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon and Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon.
“Areas of freezing fog of less than a quarter of a mile linger along parts of I-84 near Cabbage Hill, Poverty Flats, and Deadman Pass. Road cameras confirm obscure visibility in the area. Practice extra pre-caution driving habits, such as leaving more space in front of you when traveling. Freezing temperatures could lead to slicking conditions along the roads and sidewalks,” describes the weather service.
Former Oregon defensive tackle Jericho Johnson is reuniting with Tosh Lupoi.
Johnson, who has three years of eligibility remaining, committed to Cal on Saturday.
He is the third former UO player to follow Lupoi to Berkeley, joining safety Kingston Lopa and receiver Cooper Perry.
The 6-foot-4, 342-pound Johnson had five tackles and one pass breakup in nine games this season. He did not record a statistic while playing six snaps in two games while redshirting in 2024.
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He is the 21st of 26 UO scholarship players to transfer this offseason to commit elsewhere, joining running backs Makhi Hughes (Houston), Jay Harris (Kansas State) and Jayden Limar (Washington), cornerbacks Jahlil Florence (Missouri), Sione Laulea (Missouri) and Dakoda Fields (Oklahoma) and safeties Kingston Lopa (Cal), Solomon Davis (San Diego State) and Daylen Austin (Arizona), offensive lineman Lipe Moala (Hawaii), receivers Justius Lowe (San Diego State) and Cooper Perry (Cal), defensive linemen Tionne Gray (Notre Dame), Ashton Porter (Houston), Xadavien Sims (Arkansas) and Terrance Green (Alabama), outside linebackers Blake Purchase (Ole Miss) and Tobi Haastrup (West Virginia), quarterbacks Austin Novosad (Bowling Green) and Bryson Beaver (Georgia) and tight end Roger Saleapage (BYU).
On Saturday at 12:28 p.m. the National Weather Service issued an air stagnation advisory in effect until Thursday at 10 a.m. for Oregon Lower Treasure Valley as well as Harney, Baker and Malheur counties.
The weather service states to prepare for, “An extended period of stagnant air, with light winds and little vertical mixing. This is due to an inversion near the surface that will continue to trap pollutants.”
“Poor air quality may cause issues for people with respiratory problems,” states the weather service. “Persons with respiratory illness should follow their physicians advice for dealing with high levels of air pollution during periods of stagnant air.”
