South Dakota Firefighter Died Of Carbon Monoxide, Smoke Inhalation Fighting Frog Fire

ADIN (CBS13) — A firefighter who went missing on Thursday and whose body was found on Friday died of a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, the coroner said on Tuesday.

David Ruhl. 38, was found following an overnight search battling a fire east of Mount Shasta.

Ruhl, an engine captain with the Mystic Ranger Division out of Rapid City, South Dakota, was on temporary assignment to the Big Valley Ranger District in California. He worked for the forest service for 14 years, and previously served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The forest service is investigating his death. They will lower flags to half-staff through Aug. 6 in honor of Ruhl.

Ruhl is survived by his wife and two children.

In 2014, Ruhl was a fire school coordinator in the Black Hills National Forest, according to the Forest Service.

Ruhl also served as the liaison for the veterans fire team, a program where firefighters and veterans returning home from overseas could work side-by-side to help protect wildlands from fire.