**Luke Befumo** was identified as the person recovered from **Payette Lake** after a cliff-jumping accident.

Officials from the Payette National Forest announced that Luke Befumo, a McCall smokejumper, died after drowning while off-duty with friends at Payette Lake on Monday, July 27. The Valley County Sheriff's Office confirmed to KTVB that Befumo was the person who jumped into the water and did not come back up. Authorities received the initial report at 8:43 p.m. on July 27 on the east side of Payette Lake near “The Cliffs.” Befumo's body was recovered on July 28, after search efforts were suspended late Monday night because of darkness and limited visibility. The announcement also stated Befumo served as a wildland firefighter and with the U.S. Forest Service for eight years, working in McCall during the 2025 and 2026 fire seasons, and was with the Grangeville Smokejumpers in 2024. Matthew Davis, Payette Forest Supervisor, said Luke was a dedicated member of the smokejumper community and thanked loved ones and the Valley County Sheriff’s Department for their response efforts and care.