El Paso firefighters pay tribute to smoke jumper killed in New Mexico fire

EL PASO, Texas -- Members of the El Paso Fire Department took part in the funeral procession Sunday for a smoke jumper who died this past week after being severely injured battling a New Mexico wildfire.

Tim Hart, who had worked for the U.S. Forest Service since 2006, suffered the injuries that would later prove fatal on May 24 while responding to the 900-acre Eicks Fire in Hildago County.

The 36-year-old Hart was flown by air ambulance to an El Paso hospital following a hard landing after parachuting into rocky terrain at the fire site. The cause of his hard fall is still being investigated, officials said.

Hart on Sunday was making his final journey home from El Paso to his native Cody, Wyoming, where he is survived by his wife Michelle.

“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,” USFS Chief Vicki Christiansen said in a statement.

The USFS said it will ensure Hart's family receives all condolences mailed to this address:

c/o Shoshone National Forest
808 Meadow Lane Ave., Cody, WY 82414

In addition, there is a GoFundMe account that was set up for Hart’s medical bills prior to his death.