Coyote Basin Chainsaw Injury 72 hr Report
(263KB pdf posted 5/15/2012)
On Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at approximately 1845, a BLM engine crewmember (swamper) was injured during suppression operations on a mutual aid fire with Moffat County. During the construction of saw line the swamper reached to deflect falling brush from hitting the sawyer. In the motion his right leg made contact with the bar of the chainsaw.
337 Fatality NIOSH Report
(5MB pdf posted 5/14/2012)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation report (F2011-17) on the fatality of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) firefighter Caleb Hamm.
Wildland Firefighter Heat Illness Awareness and Prevention Webinar
(61KB pdf posted 5/10/2012)
Join us for a webinar May 17, 2012 1pm PDT: Wildland Firefighter Heat Illness Awareness and Prevention. Wildland firefighting is arduous work in extreme environmental conditions including heat. The job demands and environmental factors experienced by wildland firefighters can lead to a perfect storm for an increased risk to heat illnesses. This webinar will discuss the indicators heat illnesses, the physiology of heat illnesses for appropriate mitigations, and examples of mitigations used successfully by IMT and IHC crews in extreme conditions.
2011 Incident Review Summary
(1.41 MB pdf posted 5/2/2012)
This report presents a summary of the information gleaned from the seventy-eight 2011 incident review reports—from various agencies—submitted to and gathered by the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (LLC).
Two More Chains - Spring 2012 Issue
(6.94 MB pdf posted 5/1/2012)
“Initial Attack – We’re Doing a Good Job, But . . .” this issue’s cover story, explores the challenges and risks—potential pitfalls—that might await you on your next IA assignment. Travis Dotson’s “Ground Truths” delves into why we love IA, as well as its associated dangers and opportunities. Also in this issue: videos that share Initial Attack lessons; nozzle tips; Tim Woody—a veteran firefighter with extended east and west coast wildland fire experience—shares his spot-on IA insights; and the annual 2011 Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award recipients.
Coal Canyon Fire Fatality Investigation
(18.16 MB pdf posted 4/30/2012)
On August 11, 2011, at approximately 1330, U.S. Forest Service, South Dakota State, and Volunteer Fire Department personnel responded to a fire in Coal Canyon on the Black Hills National Forest. As additional resources arrived, the IC, perceiving the increasing complexity, requested a type 3 organization through dispatch. Shortly after, as fire behavior increased and compromised an egress route out of the fire area, fire entrapped and overran firefighters attempting escape. One firefighter died, two received serious burns, and two received minor burns.
Southern Region Prescribed Fire Review
(1.86 MB pdf posted 4/27/2012)
This Southern Region Prescribed Fire Review focuses on procedures that have proven successful in continuing to implement prescribed fire despite drought conditions. It also identifies the barriers—as well as opportunities—for fostering a “learning culture” throughout the Region’s prescribed fire program.
Longo Fatality Notification
(30KB pdf posted 4/20/2012)
Incident Description: Firefighter Longo was driving a squad truck to the fire station to pick up a brush truck in response to a grass fire when he suffered a stroke.
Apalachicola Unit 208 Escaped RX
(1MB pdf posted 4/19/2012)
The Burn Unit 208 Rx was completed on the Wakulla Ranger District of the Apalachicola National Forest on January 28, 2012. It escaped containment and was declared the Grand Bay Fire on February 12, 2012.
Lower North Fork Prescribed Fire
(11.87 MB pdf posted 4/17/2012)
On Monday March 26, 2012, a three--person crew was monitoring the Unit during a “red flag warning”. At approximately 1315 winds carried a stream of ground level embers across the established prescribed fire control line. This complex series of winds resulted in two spot fires outside control lines that were quickly contained by mop--up/ patrol personnel on scene. The crew responded to a third spot fire at 1340 located approximately 1500 feet southeast down the control line from the two earlier contained spot fires. The new spot fire quickly became established and it exceeded the capacity for control by ground forces resulting in an escape and subsequent conversion to a wildfire at 1430.
Video: Looking Back - Moving Forward: Dave Campbell
(40KB pdf posted 4/13/2012)
The second production in the LLC’s new “Looking Back – Moving Forward” video series features Dave Campbell, District Ranger, West Fork Ranger District, Bitterroot National Forest. See why, over the course of his 30-year Forest Service career, Dave is widely recognized for his efforts as advisor and mentor for other district rangers, district FMOs, and fire staffs.
Wind Event FLA
(845.26 bytes pdf posted 4/10/2012)
In late November and early December of 2011, the Pacific Southwest Region (Region 5, State of California) experienced a significant high wind event, which challenged National Forests that had ongoing prescribed fires. Following this event, the Facilitated Learning Analysis (FLA) process was used to analyze individual actions and trends to define successes as related to prescribed fires and the wind event.
Drip Torch Malfunction RLS
(410KB pdf posted 4/2/2012)
We were on a large wildfire yesterday where we needed to do a significant burnout and one of our drip torches would not flow fuel. It acted clogged, but when we disassembled, air flowed freely through every part. We put it out of service, used another, and this morning had time to delve into it further.
Heat Illness Basics for Wildland Firefighters
(2MB pdf posted 3/30/2012)
This 2010 MTDC publication provides an informative overview and helpful tips on: heat stress, common heat illnesses—signs and symptoms, heat stroke, risk factors that can contribute to heat illnesses, and preventive recommendations for wildland firefighters.
Lockheed Felling Incident
(208KB pdf posted 3/28/2012)
A firefighter faller trainee was assigned to fell a 60’ Tanoak tree with an approximate 16 inch Diameter Breast Height (DBH). The lay of the tree was determined to be uphill and an appropriate undercut was made on the tree. Upon making the back-cut, the tree fell away from its intended lay approximately 90 degrees and struck another firefighter working within the fall zone.
Video: "You See a Hazard Tree – Now What Do You Do?"
(73KB pdf posted 3/19/2012)
This video, from the LLC's "Firefighter: Remember This" series, explores how firefighters can increase their hazard tree awareness and mitigation actions. [Run time: 14 min. 54 sec.]
Videos: NPS Fire Leaders - Tschohl & Erskine
(67.66 bytes pdf posted 3/8/2012)
Tom Tschohl: Accepting Risk – Both Ecological and Political
Tom Tschohl, former District Ranger at Sequoia National Park—who spent a 23-year career at this park—discusses what it takes to operate a successful fire management program. Your first priority, Tom assures, is to the land, not politics.
Doug Erskine: ‘Three Cups of Tea’
This former Director of Fire Management Operations at the National Interagency Fire Center lends an inside tip to an intercommunication skill and tactic that worked for him throughout his career.
Forest Health Piles Escape RX
(1MB pdf posted 3/2/2012)
On January 13, 2012, fire personnel from Northern Hills Ranger District of the Black Hills National Forest ignited approximately 150 hand piles within the Forest Health Unit 1 fuel break. As the three-person burn team completed ignition around noon, the relative humidity dropped rapidly while brisk westerly winds developed. Buffeted by wind gusts in excess of 35 mph during the afternoon and evening, the fire burned approximately 3.5 acres of private property.
Airtanker Drop Injury
(104.86 bytes pdf posted 2/28/2012)
A Fire Apparatus Engineer (FAE) assigned to an engine was approximately 50’-60’ downhill from the ridgeline near the flank of the fire. The FAE acknowledged the notification of incoming air drops. An air tanker then came over the ridge and began its drop run . The FAE saw the air tanker at the last second and discarded his tool but was unable to get into the proper safety position for the drop. He was struck by the drop causing him to roll approximately 50’-60’ feet down the steep slope.
323 Fatality Report
(716.5 bytes pdf posted 2/28/2012)
On April 15, 2011, a 50-year-old male volunteer fire fighter (the victim) died at a wildland urban interface incident from blunt force trauma from either being struck by or run over by a fire vehicle during fire-fighting operations in smoky conditions with very limited visibility.
Mobile Application
(225KB pdf posted 2/17/2012)
Check out the LLC's new mobile application for tablets and smartphones!
Crew Operations in Extreme Heat
(325KB pdf posted 2/10/2012)
In an extreme heat environment the preferred tool for fire suppression resources to prevent, mitigate, or treat heat illness is to place firefighters in the shade and air-conditioning of a vehicle. Other tools include outdoor shade rest, misting stations, and frequent breaks. Hydration alone is ineffective in preventing heat illness during wildland operations in this environment.
Fell or Blast
(257KB pdf posted 2/10/2012)
All were in agreement to use explosives to get the tree safely to the ground. The blaster used a chainsaw to bore out two holes. Once completed a blasting briefing was completed and everyone moved a safe distance away and 2 guards posted. The blaster loaded the tree with explosives and made the shot. After the all clear was given and the return to the blast site, guard 2 said he had observed numerous pieces of debris launched eastward from the blasted tree toward the highway and private structures.
Incident Within an Incident Plan
(356KB pdf posted 2/9/2012)
Northern Rockies Type 2 team (Fry) developed this worksheet. This one-page sheet is designed to be used as shown in the user guide included. It encourages you to think about incidents before they happen and write down information pertinent to the daily situation. It can then be used as a field reference if something actually happens. It is applicable to incidents from IA to team levels.
Video: Looking Back – Moving Forward: Brett Fay
(90.25 bytes pdf posted 2/9/2012)
This is the LLC’s premiere video in our new video series “Looking Back – Moving Forward” that will highlight fire career stories from wildland fire managers. Brett Fay, Assistant Fire Management Coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Region, is featured in this first video: “I Consider Myself a Resource Manager – and My Tool is Fire.”
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