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FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003

Rick Lupe, a firefighter for the White Mountain Apache Tribe of Arizona, died on Thursday, five weeks after suffering third-degree burns over 40 percent of his body.

Lupe was injured during a prescribed burn May 14. He underwent surgery but never came out of a medically induced coma.

Lupe was considered one of the heroes of last year's devastating Rodeo-Chedeski Fire, which burned more than half of the reservation. He is credited with keeping a community from being destroyed by the blaze.

Donations may be made for the Lupe family at any Wells Fargo Bank in the WMAT-Rick Lupe Donation Fund, account #3828332563. Credit card donations can be made in Rick Lupe's name on the Internet at http://www.azfcu.org

A Lupe Fund also has been set up at Arizona Federal Credit Union, account # 468902.

Get the Story:
Arizona loses man who saved Show Low (The Arizona Republic 6/20)
Rick Lupe, 2002 firefighting hero of Show Low, dies (AP 6/20)

Relevant Links:
White Mountain Apache Tribe - http://www.wmat.nsn.us

Related Stories:
Apache firefighter in stable but critical condition (06/04)
Apache fire accident being investigated (05/20)
Apache firefighter in critical condition (5/19)