Avalanche claims life of Saratoga council member

Tragedy struck the Saratoga community early on the afternoon of February 9 when an avalanche claimed the life of 34-year-old Jacob Fluty.

According to a press release from the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, a SPOT device emergency SOS activation was received in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. The location of the SOS was southwest of Bridger Peak in an area known as “Avalanche Alley.” Responding deputies were able to contact the individual who had activated the SPOT device, who reported he and his snowmobile riding partner had been caught in an avalanche.

The individual told deputies the riding partner was located, but had been buried by the avalanche and was deceased. The victim, later identified as Fluty, was located and recovered along with his snowmobile by Search and Rescue volunteers, Sheriff’s Office staff and the County Coroner.

At the time of his death, Fluty was serving on the Saratoga Town Council with his father, Jerry. Fluty was elected in 2022 and took the seat on January 3, 2023. He leaves behind his wife, Ashley, and three children. A memorial fund for the family of Jacob Fluty was set-up over the weekend and has already surpassed the goal of $10,000 with more than $14,000 raised as of Monday afternoon. It can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/jacob-fluty. A Meal Train account was also set up for his family at https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/qov631.

Services for Fluty are scheduled for noon on Sunday, February 18, at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga.