UTAH COUNTY – A man from Tooele died Saturday after he fell more than 1,500 feet while he and two others climbed Mount Nebo, and the Tooele City Fire Department stated they are mourning the passing of a "Brother Firefighter."
According to a press release from Utah County Sheriff’s Office, 40-year-old Gregory Bronder of Tooele suffered fatal injuries in a fall estimated at between 500 and 600 meters, or roughly 1,600 to 1,900 feet. Bronder was with two other hikers, and the three were training for an ascent of Mount Rainier.
Emergency crews from Juab County and Utah County were dispatched to Mount Nebo shortly after 11:30 a.m. Saturday on a report a man had fallen. A Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was called in to airlift the victim and the two other hikers off of the mountain.
Officials stated the three hikers were crossing a saddle between two of the peaks when Bronder fell. The others attempted to provide medical assistance to the man, but “his injuries were too severe and he died as a result of the fall," the release states.
Late Saturday night, The Tooele City Fire Department posted on Facebook saying they "lost a Brother Firefighter today."
Bronder was an "avid outdoorsman" who loved hiking and mountain climbing, according to the Tooele City Fire Department.
The post states: "Greg you will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bronder and Colovich families at this difficult time. Your fellow FireFighters and the Citizens of Tooele City thank you for your service. RIP my friend."
In addition to the post, the department changed their profile picture to a symbol displaying their mourning of a fallen firefighter.
North Tooele Fire District also showed their support on Facebook.
The press release states there doesn’t appear to be anything suspicious about the fall, but Utah County Sheriff’s Office personnel were investigating the accident.
At just shy of 12,000 feet, Mount Nebo is the highest peak in the Wasatch Range. It is located partially in Utah County and partially in Juab County and is near Mona.
