The North Thompson Valley lost a very brave and community-minded young man early Monday morning.
Chad Schapansky, age 23, lost his life while fighting a fire at the Covered Wagon Restaurant and Pub in Clearwater. He had apparently fallen through the floor and became trapped in the basement.
This was not the first time Schapansky had a close encounter with death while firefighting. On Aug. 1, 2003, he was one of two Clearwater firefighters who volunteered to assist the Barriere Fire Department when the McLure Fire blew up.
The pair were trapped when the forest fire jumped the river and surrounded Louis Creek. They escaped by driving their firetruck at speed through a wall of smoke and flame on Highway 5.
They then contributed to saving Barriere until withdrawn late that night. Schapansky
