22-year-old inmate firefighter hurt in San Diego County blaze dies

A 22-year-old inmate firefighter hurt using a chain saw while battling a blaze July 5 has died from his injuries, officials said.

Frank Anaya cut his leg and femoral artery while fighting the brush fire in Lakeside, east of San Diego. He died Tuesday after undergoing multiple surgeries, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials said.

“We are saddened by the death of Frank Anaya and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” state corrections secretary Scott Kernan said in a statement. “Anaya provided an invaluable public service and helped protect our communities from devastating fires.”

Anaya had been assigned to the La Cima Conservation Camp in San Diego County since April.

He was a Ventura County resident and had been in state custody since September after being convicted of assault on his spouse and weapons charges, spokesman Bill Sessa said.

Anaya is the second inmate firefighter to die this year. Matthew Beck, 26, was killed when a 120-foot tree fell on him in Humboldt County.

Five inmates have died since the conservation program was created in the 1940s.

A team of Cal Fire officials who review serious accidents are looking into the Lakeside incident. Cal/OSHA is also investigating, Sessa said.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com

Kucher writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.