Friends and Family,

Our beloved Aaron McDaniel was involved in a Rock Climbing accident on 1/30/2025 in Death Valley. He was airlifted to the Hospital in Bakersfield. He suffered a shattered femur and broken knee cap. He remains in ICU due to complications of surgery. Due to the significance of surgery complications Aaron will be in need of long term care. Aaron’s career with the Forest Service started in Wildland Fire on the Cleveland National Forest Type 2 Hand Crew Descanso Crew5. He then took a seasonal position on Engine 344 in the Descanso. After 1 season with Engine 344, he took a seasonal position with the Stainslaus Hotshots. He did 3 seasons with Stainslaus before taking a Permanent Seasonal Position with the Tahoe Rappel crew on the Tahoe National Forest. Any donations received will go towards long term care and any hospital expenses that are accrued. His mom Cindy Petrich is his primary caregiver.