While dropping gelled gasoline to ignite the burn, the pilot flying the mission noticed a person in yellow and green below him, inside the ignition unit.
Lessons
Firing Device Mishaps
Visit the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Incident Review Database to check out these stories about when firing devices either caught on fire at an unintended time in an unintended location, or when the wrong tool was used for the wrong purpose.
Dutch Flat Entrapment
During the firing operation a fire whirl forms, causing an entrapment with burn injuries.
Fiddlers Island Road Burnout
Located in the Fiddlers Island dip site was an alligator and her four hatchlings. This mother alligator was starting to lose her fear of humans.
320 Road Entrapment
This event happened on a fire you may have heard of, the Coal Canyon Fire. This incident is not the fatality that occurred during initial attack on August 11, but a firing operation resulting in a very close call on August 12.
Price Canyon Entrapment
The jumpers reported that winds instantly increased to over 50 miles per hour. Debris “as big as softballs” and embers rained down around them. Dense smoke enveloped them.
Podcast – Lessons from Firing Operations
Kelly Woods and Travis Dotson discuss incidents featured in the latest issue of Two More Chains, the quarterly publication produced at the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center. Each of the incidents featured involves firing operations.
LLC Incident Report Staff Picks
The Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center staff members share their favorite incident reports from 2022.
Stuff You Should Have
You should let the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center prioritize your shopping list. We have the data.
Lessons from 2022: AEDs
Knowing where to find your AED, how and when to use it, and how to store and maintain it are critical. Much like with a fire extinguisher, an AED must be maintained, batteries checked, and people must be trained in its use.