Cal Fire Mourns Equipment Mechanic

A Cal Fire heavy equipment mechanic was killed early Thursday in an apparent single vehicle crash along State R oute 99. Authorities said 40-year-old Andrew Brake of Cal Fire’s Butte Unit apparently lost control of his northbound vehicle on a curve approaching Tehama-Vina Road leaving the roadway and str iking a tree. Officer Ken Reineman of the California Highway Patrol’s Red Bluff office said the incident appears to have been a single vehicle accident. The vehicle caught fire with Brake inside. The incident occurred at 12:17 a.m. It remains under investigation. Brake, a six - year Cal Fire veteran was on his way to the Carr Fire. Governor Jerry Brown offered condolences to Brake’s family and ordered flags at the capitol to be flown at half staff . Brake is survived by a sister, his parents, two daughters and their mother.