Here is more from our forthcoming 2018 Incident Review Summary.
By Travis Dotson
In 2018 we collected 17 reported Rollover Incidents. Mostly Water Tenders and Dozers (5 each). The others were chase vehicles, an Engine, a UTV and an ATV.
Almost all of the rollovers involved slipping off the road shoulder.
We move big heavy things around on dirt roads under difficult conditions while stressed and tired.
We sometimes slip off the road.
Got a Dozer or a Water Tender in your Task Force?
Heads up.
Here are a few clips from reports:
“…he began to feel the back of the Tender pulling him sideways as the Tender began to slide off the road.” Cougar Creek Fire Water Tender Accident
“…dozer slipped off the edge of a logging road and tumbled down end-over-end…” Sugar Pine Fire Dozer Rollover
“…passenger side front wheel traveled off the edge of the road, and the engine departed the roadway, and rolled.” Fawn Fire Engine Rollover
“There were three slip locations, spread over several hundred feet, where Dozer 1 left the trail prior to the rollover.” Ferguson Dozer Fatality
“…it left the road on the downhill side and rolled over.” Miles Fire Water Tender Rollover
“…he became distracted and the truck drove straight off the road.” Ferguson Fire Water Tender Rollover
This is from the 2016 Incident Review Summary:
Exercise (30 minutes)
Study the quotes above.
Individually write down your answer to this question:
What are all the reasons you can think of why we might “slip off the road”?
Compare your list with others.
Discuss ways to prepare for and prevent rollovers.
Slow down! , tell the people in charge who have never done what you do that you will not rush things and if road conditions are above yours and or apparatuses ability simply refuse assignment. We all have the “right to refuse assignment” tho some will try to strong arm and intimidate you into
doing what you don’t feel safe about.