USDA Forest Service Ranger Station

Parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents — Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries — BIGFORK, Montana

HOSPITALIZED — Worker hospitalized after incident at USDA Forest Service Ranger Station in BIGFORK, Montana
Employer USDA Forest Service Ranger Station
Address 200 Ranger Station Road
City, State ZIP BIGFORK, Montana 59911
Report ID 2025088389
Event Date August 22, 2025
Outcome Hospitalized
Nature of Injury Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries
Body Part Trunk and other lower extremities
Event Type Parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents
Source of Injury Parachute
Secondary Source Wildfire
Industry (NAICS) 922160
GPS Coordinates 48.06000, -114.08000

Location Map

Incident Narrative

A smoke jumper parachuted out of a helicopter during a forest fire response, landed on steep rugged terrain, and suffered femur and rib fractures and a liver laceration. The employee was hospitalized.

Incident Summary

On August 22, 2025, a worker at USDA Forest Service Ranger Station in BIGFORK, Montana suffered multiple severe wounds and internal injuries to the trunk and other lower extremities. The incident was classified as parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents, with parachute identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.

Context

OSHA has recorded 3 severe injury reports involving "Parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents" incidents in our database. Browse all Parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents injuries.

See all reports for USDA Forest Service Ranger Station.

Similar Incidents

Other severe injury reports involving Parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents events:

Date Employer Location Nature Outcome
May 27, 2024 Forest Service - Payette National Forest MCCALL, Idaho Fractures Hosp.
Jun 10, 2025 Custer Gallatin National Forest WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana Fractures Hosp.

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Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.

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About This OSHA Report

This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.

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