Fireworks Accident Kills Forest Worker

A 19-year worker at the Boise National Forest’s Lucky Peak nursery died after being injured by a device he was using to frighten birds away from tree seedbeds.

Thomas Lawrence Tucker, 66, was using a “scare cracker” launching device to shoot fireworks into the air over the seedbeds when the accident occurred Saturday, nursery manager Richard Thatcher said.

“We’re so sorry we lost our good friend so tragically,” Thatcher said. “The people at the nursery were Tom’s family. We’ll miss him terribly.”

Thatcher said it is not known exactly how Tucker was injured but that the device did not malfunction.

Two co-workers found Tucker shortly after the accident and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation while the Life Flight helicopter was called. Tucker died about 6 p.m.

Tucker, who had a degree in mining engineering and had worked at the nursery since 1978, had planned to retire in June.

“You have to be committed to this when you’re getting hit with a cold spray of water at 6 a.m. on a cold morning,” Thatcher said.

Besides constantly irrigating trees to keep them alive at the nursery, workers wage an all-out non-lethal effort each year to make sure enough trees survive for reforestation in the Boise, Payette and Targhee national forests, Thatcher said.

Some $200,000 worth of seedlings were lost in 1990 alone.

“We’ve tried feeding the birds at another site, reflective ribbon, hawk kites, owl decoys, propane cannons, firecrackers - you name it,” Thatcher said. “The best method was having people patrol the beds using devices that would scare the birds away.”

Thatcher said he personally has given each nursery a safety briefing on use of the “scare cracker.”

Boise National Forest Supervisor Dave Rittenhouse said his forest has one of the best safety records in the U.S. Forest Service.