LA County Fire Captain Mourned

NEWHALL, CA — A Los Angeles County Fire Department captain took his own life, authorities announced Monday after a week-long search to find him ended in tragedy.

Forty-three-year-old Wayne Stuart Habell of Newhall, died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Santa Barbara County canyon, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office announced. Habell's family and friends had been frantically trying to find him since he went missing last Monday. His body was discovered over the weekend. Habell, a married father of three, touched many lives through his work in the community, prompting an outpouring of support for his grieving family.

"It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that we come together again to stand with a brother’s family and mourn the loss of one of our own," the Los Angeles firefighters union tweeted.

"Our hearts are broken over the loss of Fire Captain Habell," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. "My deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the Los Angeles County Fire Department family."

Habell's 2008 black Chrysler Aspen SUV with a Los Angeles County fire department sticker on the back window was found near the trail at 2 p.m. Friday, said Lt. Kevin Huddle of the Santa Barbara County sheriff's office. Passersby reported a suspicious vehicle had been parked near Hot Springs since Aug. 13 and said a lone male was seen walking along the trail, Huddle said.

Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies, with help from the county'sAir Support Unit and local search-and-rescue team members began an extensive search shortly after receiving the tip, but stopped after it became too dark. The search resumed Saturday morning, and Habell was found about 6 p.m.

Habell was last seen leaving his Newhall home at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 13, according to Deputy Trina Schrader of the Sheriff's Information Bureau, who said his family thought he was on his way to a fitness center.

Habell was assigned to the department's Fire Station 73 in Newhall.

Capt. Adam Clint of Los Angeles County Fire Station 108 in the Santa Clarita Valley, who previously worked with Habell, told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal that Habell's wife said her husband suffered from depression.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo: Shutterstock