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Heather Westphal. Picture provided by IAFC.

Watch IAFC video Heather Westphal worked to create, Together We Are One, now dedicated to her memory

You may have heard the news about four people drowning on the Hawaiian island of Kauai in three separate incidents on Sunday. One of the victims was Heather Westphal, Manager of Membership Marketing of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Edie Clark, Director of Communications for IAFC, confirms the information and tells us an official statement is expected from IAFC on Tuesday. Heather Westphal began working for the IAFC in February, 2007.

The 33-year-old Westphal and her 39-year-old sister-in-law, Tonya Cataldo of Parker, CO, were walking along a ledge when they were swept out to sea by a large wave. Westphal's husband Jason attempted to rescue the women, but the current was too much.

IAFC Executive Director Mark Light talked to reporters Monday night. Here's what he told The Washington Post:

She was "so respected by fire chiefs all across the country," said Mark Light, the group's executive director.

Light said he understood that Westphal and relatives on her husband's side had planned to vacation in Hawaii. She and her husband seemed to enjoy the beach, and she was "a very outdoorsy type," he said.

Below is the story from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin (Click here for more pictures of the area, and here for an updated story):

Three visitors apparently drowned off Kauai yesterday in two separate incidents, according to Kauai County news releases.

A 74-year-old Japanese visitor, who had been swimming in the ocean fronting Lae Nani condominium in Wailua, was brought to shore unresponsive at 2:54 p.m.

Bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and emergency responders took the man to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was identified by Kauai County as Hiroaki Kinjo.

At 3:24 p.m. two women were walking along Queen's Bath in Princeville when a large wave swept them out to sea. The husband of one victim dived in to help, but the current was too strong and he returned to shore, the Kauai release said.

The women were identified today by Kauai County as 33-year-old Heather Westphal from Washington, D.C., and her 39-year-old sister-in-law, Tonya Cataldo, from Parker, Colo.

Picture of area where drownings occurred from Dennis Fujimoto, GardenIsland.com.

More information from GardenIsland.com:

Attempts to revive two female victims pulled out of the water near Queen’s Bath after a 3:24 p.m. call were also unsuccessful.

A 33-year-old woman from Washington, D.C., and her 38-year-old sister-in-law from Parker, Colo., were walking along a ledge at Queen’s Bath when a large wave swept them out to sea, a county news release says.

One of the victim’s husbands attempted to rescue them, but the current was so strong that he returned to shore.

Firefighters from the Hanalei station and lifeguards from the Hanalei tower responded.

Two of the firefighters entered the water and swam out to retrieve one of the victims and waited until lifeguards arrived on a Jet Ski. The lifeguards were transporting the first victim when they found the second victim some 75 to 100 yards away.

Both victims were taken to the beach fronting Princeville at Hanalei, where awaiting medics transported them to Hanalei fire station. The victims were later transported to Borthwick Mortuary.

The Queen’s Bath is a natural pool carved into a lava shelf along a rocky shoreline that is most often enjoyed in the summer when the North Shore seas are calmer.

The National Weather Service announced a high surf advisory yesterday afternoon that will remain in effect until tomorrow evening.

“Surf will increase to heights of 14 to 18 feet along north and west facing shores of Ni‘ihau and Kaua‘i, as well as north facing shores of O‘ahu, Moloka‘i and Maui this afternoon and evening,” the advisory says on the NWS Web site.

“A high surf advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing large breaking waves, dangerous rip currents and localized beach erosion. Stay well away from the shore break and do not swim anywhere near the surf zone.”

# posted by Dave Statter @ 7:38 PM