On June 18, 1984, Deputy Jimmie R. Henry of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the crash of a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet on Santa Catalina Island, an incident that tragically led to his premature death over a decade later. The aircraft wreckage ignited a 30-acre brushfire west of Avalon, exposing Deputy Henry and two fellow deputies to toxic smoke before military personnel restricted access.
The crash, which occurred during an approach to San Clemente, California, resulted in the death of the pilot. Local law enforcement, including Deputy Henry, were among the first responders at the scene. "While assisting at the scene, Deputy Henry and two fellow deputies were exposed to toxic smoke from the burning aircraft before the Navy restricted access due to hazardous classified materials, including graphite components," according to a social media post detailing the incident.
Navy personnel, arriving later in protective suits, found the deputies already exposed to the hazardous fumes. All three deputies subsequently developed serious health complications. Deputy Henry specifically suffered from pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, and chronic lung disease, ultimately necessitating a lung transplant.
His deteriorating health forced his retirement from the Sheriff’s Department on October 25, 1990. Despite receiving a lung transplant in early 1995, Deputy Henry passed away on May 12, 1995, at UCLA Medical Center at the age of 49. He had served the Sheriff’s Department since July 10, 1972, and was survived by his wife, Susan, and son, David. The incident highlights the unforeseen dangers faced by first responders to military accidents involving advanced aircraft materials.
