Brent Witham died in the line of duty on August 2, 2017, when he was struck by a falling tree while fighting the Lolo Peak fire in the Lolo National Forest in Montana.
Brent was born on July 9, 1988, in Redlands, California, to Mark Witham and Donna Giordano. He was a member of the Vista Grande Hotshot crew based in the San Bernardino National Forest, California. Hotshot crews are firefighters trained specifically for wildfire suppression. Brent loved the challenges of being part of this elite group of firefighters. He looked forward to going to work every day and worked hard to be a good role model, leader, and firefighter.
Brent will be remembered as a skillful, courageous, and compassionate firefighter who was willing to do whatever it took to help others. Brent touched many lives with his great sense of humor, his compassion for the less fortunate, his way of turning people’s weaknesses into strength, and his overall love for life.
Brent loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, his family, his firefighter brothers and sisters, and his friends. He was a son, a brother, a cousin, a nephew, a friend to many, and a proud wildland firefighter. Brent is deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
It has been a little over 5 years since you’ve joined our Lord and Savior. Even though I cannot see or physically touch you, you are still here and present with me in all ways. Thank you for being an angel looking over your bothers of fire, my brother (you know his heart), my family, your father and sister (most importantly), along with the rest of the fambam, and all your friends, including all those of the lives you had touched. You’re a busy boy up there. I love you forever. BMW AAA
– Amy AmicoI dreamt of you last night and have been thinking of you all day. It still makes me so sad you aren’t here. You were such an amazing person and a blessing to so many. God needed you more than we did though. I love you!
– Olivia Morales