The firefighter injured by a bear while working on the Juneau Lake fire on Monday is in good health, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He has been identified as Glacier District Ranger Tim Charnon. According to the release, his run-in with a sub-adult brown bear occurred when Charnon saw it charging at him.
Public Information Officer Meg Cicciarella said Charnon has been in Anchorage for treatment since the incident, and he was expected to be released Friday. He will return home, she said, not to the fire.
“He was scouting the fire, and presumably he was alone,” Cicciarella said.
According to the release, Charnon did not have time to reach for his bear spray. The bear knocked his helmet off, swiped and bit him before leaving. Charnon radioed for help, and was assisted by a Cooper Landing ambulance and a LifeMed helicopter.
Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@peninsulaclarion.com.
