More detail on this person: CHICO - The name of the man who died early Saturday morning in a
duplex fire in Chico has been released in a new statement by the California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection.
Donald Barnett worked for the Tehama-Glenn unit of Cal Fire from 2000 to 2005 as a forestry pilot
before he retired. Prior to working with Cal Fire, Barnett was a pilot for Aris Helicopters and
served two tours in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, according to the statement.
The fire was called in at 4:19 a.m. Saturday by a neighbor of Barnett's at Northwood Commons Place
in Chico, a property consisting of individually-owned duplex condominiums. Barnett's side of the
duplex was destroyed, but the responding firefighters, some of them from Cal Fire, were able to keep
the fire from spreading to the adjoining home, though it suffered some minor smoke damage, said
Chico fire inspector Marie Fickert.
John Miller, the regional property manager for Northwood Commons Place was able to confirm on
Saturday that Barnett was the only resident of the home and was well-respected by his neighbors.
Barnett is survived by his mother, Jeane Hathcoat, of Mendocino County, and his sister Loni Kawecki,
of Sacramento.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 08/31/2024
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