Hornbrook, Cal. — Friends are expressing deep sadness in the loss of the man who died as the devastating Klamathon Fire tore through the town of Hornbrook, which burned nearly 38,000 acres in northern California and southern Oregon.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as 72-year-old John Bermel. The office said an autopsy confirmed his injuries were consistent with a fire-related death, but the cause and manner of death will not be determined until toxicology tests return from the lab.

According to Sheriff Jon Lopey, evidence shows he was packing up his truck with his belongings when he was overcome by the flames.

"From what we can determine, John was planning to evacuate," said Christina Mickle, a long-time friend and ex-partner of Bermel's. "And then for some reason he went back into his house, and we don't know why and we will probably never know why."

In the meantime, those who knew Bermel remember him as a kind and gentle personality. She said he lived alone in his Hornbrook home, but was a skilled handyman.

"He is probably one of the most generous souls that I have ever met," said Mickle. "And due to his humility, he probably would not acknowledge the impact that he had on others, and how much he was truly loved and appreciated."

Mickel said Bermel was born in Berkley, California, and lived in the state nearly his whole life. She said he was a Vietnam Veteran, and described him as having a "brilliant mind."

"John Bermel is a very unique individual, and I've never met anyone quite like him," she said. "It was his ideals that compelled him to make the world a better place."

Mickel's words are echoed by the staff of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, an Ashland-based organization focused on preserving and restoring local wilderness. Bermel volunteered there on and off for 15 years.

"He was really interested in our stewardship program, where we go out and restore and protect special places on public lands," said Joseph Vaile, Executive Director for KS Wilds. "And he had actually been planning to go on a trip we're doing this weekend." 

According to Vaile, Bermel was active and did not show his 72 years of age. He was the type of volunteer who was always prepared and willing to share.

"He would always bring stuff to these events like all the cooking gear you could ever imagine on a wilderness trip," said Vaile. "He was always the one who had the thing you needed when you forgot it."

Both Mickel and Vaile said Bermel was not an avid user of technology. He did not own a computer and would go to the public library to use his email. Instead of social media and texting, he preferred hand-written letters-- the most recent of which a staff member at KS Wild received last month.

"You don't find that often in this day of Twitter-- people writing long letters about what they're doing, what they're working on," said Vaile. "But it seemed like John was one of those people that valued that kind of correspondence."

Bermel is remembered to have a passion for the outdoors, specifically the hot springs found along the Klamath River. Vaile said it would be incredible to see the area restored as a tribute to Bermel's life.

SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. — Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey has identified the man who was killed as a result of the Klamathon Fire.

During a community meeting Sheriff Lopey identified him as 72-year-old John Karl Bermel.

He was found on his property on Pilot St in Hornbrook.

Sheriff Lopey says it happened July 5th, during the mandatory evacuation in his neighborhood. Evidence shows he was packing up his truck with his belongings, when he was overcome by the flames.

The autopsy results were conducted Wednesday, but toxicology results have not come back yet.