Local News
Big Bear Hotshot Firefighter Carlos Baltazar Remains Found After Four Years
After more than four years of anguish and unanswered questions, the family of Carlos Baltazar, a U.S. Forest Service firefighter with the Big Bear Hotshots, has finally received closure.
On February 22, 2025, authorities informed the family that Carlos’ remains had been discovered near the area where he originally went missing in September 2020.
His loved ones are now seeking the community’s support to provide him with the honorable funeral he deserves.
Carlos Baltazar, a committed wildland firefighter, went missing on September 20, 2020, shortly after suffering a devastating personal loss.
While battling the El Dorado Fire, his squad boss tragically passed away. Carlos, like his fellow firefighters, was deeply affected by the loss.
He returned to the barracks to prepare for the upcoming funeral services but was last seen shortly after speaking with his coworkers.
He left the barracks unexpectedly, and later that day, his vehicle was discovered crashed along Highway 18.
Concern grew when Carlos failed to contact his family, something that was deeply out of character for him.
A devoted son and father, Carlos always stayed in touch with his loved ones. When his family reported him missing, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office launched a search effort. However, after several days of searching the area near his abandoned vehicle, authorities were unable to locate him.
For years, Carlos’ family endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty, hoping for answers that never came. His 77-year-old mother, now the primary caretaker of his 14-year-old son, suffered immense grief, clinging to the hope that someday they would find Carlos.
On February 22, 2025, Carlos’ remains were finally found near the location of his disappearance. While the discovery brings much-needed closure, it also reopens wounds for a family that has endured years of heartache and unanswered questions.
Carlos was more than a firefighter—he was a selfless protector, a devoted father, a loving son, and a loyal friend. His colleagues remember him as an uplifting presence, always pushing others to be their best. He was a man of faith, dedication, and resilience, someone who put his life on the line to protect communities from devastating wildfires.
Carlos’ family is now turning to the community for help in giving him the proper funeral and memorial service he deserves. After dedicating his life to protecting others, his family wants to bring him home with the dignity and respect he earned.
“We appreciate everyone who has never forgotten about Carlos through the years and has never stopped asking about him,” the family stated. “Now, we need your help to unite and honor his memory.”
The family has set up a fundraiser to cover the costs of funeral arrangements and to support his grieving mother and son. Any donations, no matter the amount, are deeply appreciated.
Carlos Baltazar gave his strength, courage, and dedication to protecting others. Now, his family and friends hope to give him a final resting place that reflects the honor and gratitude he so rightfully deserves.
A private plane crash in Copake, New York, over the weekend claimed the lives of six individuals, including a former NCAA Woman of the Year and members of a prominent family of medical and academic professionals.
The group was en route to the Catskills for a family gathering and to observe the Passover holiday when tragedy struck.
Authorities identified the victims as 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) soccer standout Karenna Groff, her father Dr. Michael Groff, a respected neuroscientist and the pilot of the aircraft, her mother Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist, and her boyfriend James Santoro, also a recent MIT graduate.
The other two individuals aboard the plane have not yet been publicly identified.
The crash occurred just after noon on Saturday when their twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down in a muddy field in the town of Copake, near the New York-Massachusetts border.
The aircraft had taken off earlier that morning from an airport in White Plains, a suburb of New York City, and was scheduled to land at Columbia County Airport.
The crash site is located approximately 20 miles south of the intended destination.
Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore noted that emergency response efforts were hampered by the remote and muddy terrain where the aircraft went down.
“It’s in the middle of a field and it’s pretty muddy, so accessibility is difficult,” she said during a press briefing Saturday.
Family members expressed deep sorrow over the sudden and devastating loss. John Santoro, father of victim James Santoro, described the Groff family as “wonderful people” who had already made meaningful contributions to the world and had the potential to do much more.
“The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity,” he said. “We’re all personally devastated.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and is expected to release further details in the coming days. Funeral arrangements for the victims are currently underway.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both the MIT community and medical circles, as those lost were remembered not only for their achievements but for their warmth, compassion, and dedication to service.