Thomas Regennitter was a skilled smokejumper for the US Forest Service. In four years, he made a total of 33 jumps, until he got the call to parachute over Shasta-Trinity National Forest to help crews fight the Oak Fire. As he was preparing to make his jump, his right foot became entangled in his own static line, causing him to trip and fall out of the plane. He died of a broken neck and other head injuries.