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S A F E N E T
Wildland Fire Safety & Health Reporting Network
Report unsafe situations in all wildland fire operations. |
ID # 7JMPFJSAFE |
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Name : (Optional) |
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Phone : (Optional) |
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EMail : (Optional) |
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Date Reported : |
09/19/2008 |
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Agency/Organization : |
BLM |
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State Agency : |
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Other Agency : |
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Event Date : |
09/16/2008 |
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Local Time : |
2:45 pm |
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Incident Name : |
PIGEON BASIN RX |
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Incident Number : |
TC 43 |
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State : |
WY |
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Jurisdiction : |
BLM |
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Local Unit : |
HDD |
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Incident Type : |
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Incident Activity : |
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Stage of Incident : |
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Prescribed |
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Line |
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Other |
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Position Title : |
Holding & Firing Bosses |
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Task : |
Holding And Firing The Unit |
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Management Level : |
2 |
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Resources Involved : |
1 Utv |
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Contributing Factors : |
Communications; Other |
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Human Factors : |
Decision Making; Situational Awareness |
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Other Factors : |
terrain |
| Describe in detail what happened including the concern or potential issue, the environment (weather, terrain, fire behavior, etc), and the resulting safety/health issue. |
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On Tuesday, 9/16/08 at 14:45 A Polaris Ranger (UTV) was involved in an incident during the Pigeon Basin RX. This incident resulted in the UTV resting in an off-cantered, nose down position in a ditch while flame front passed resulting in heat damage to the driver side of the UTV.
Immediately prior to the incident, two Engine Module leaders (EML’s), a Firing Boss (T) and a Holding Boss, were in the UTV. The two EML’s were approximately 100-150 yards upslope of the three hand lighters. The Firing boss (T) shot three vari pistol rounds into a drainage ahead of the hand lighters. The holding boss was driving the UTV; meanwhile the hand lighters were below continuing to light across the slope. The firing boss asked that the hand lighters stop lighting. No response was given and another call was not made at this time.
The Firing Boss (T) had just completed shooting three rounds and was driving the UTV back to get in front of the hand lighters. As the UTV approached the lighters, approximately 20-30 yards away, the fire was moving faster than the UTV could get through the ditch. This is when the UTV got stuck. Both Firing Boss (T) and Holding Boss felt the only other option was to drive through the flame front (flame lengths were 2-3 ft tall) and both Firing Boss (T) and Holding Boss felt it was determined that this was not a safe option.
Immediately after the UTV was stuck both Firing Boss (T) and Holding Boss tried to free the UTV unstuck by rocking it, after trying unsuccessfully, the Firing Boss (T) and Holding Boss grabbed their PPE (line gear) and got out of the way of the flames, During this time the Holding Boss made several attempts to make contact with his holding resource. Holding resources were engaged on moving a truck, which the hand lighters drove to the original ignition spot, to a safer area. The Firing Boss (T) called on the radio and was successful on getting a response from one of the holding resources. After the flames passed over the UTV the Firing Boss arrived and tried unsuccessfully to get the UTV out of the ditch, then realized that the UTV wasn’t in AWD. The Firing Boss then engaged the AWD and successfully drove it out of the ditch.
Neither the driver nor the passenger of the UTV was engaged in fire suppression activities at the time of the incident.
There were no injuries incurred by the driver, passenger, or any other personnel as a result of this accident.
NOTE: This incident summary is compiled from statements of witnesses and personnel involved |
SUGGESTED CORRECTIVE ACTION |
| Reporting Individual : Please list anything that, if changed, would prevent this safety issue in the future. |
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The Firing Boss (T) and the Holding Boss should have not been engaged in lighting fire this may have been a causal factor in the events that led to the incdent
The Firing Boss (T) and the Holding Boss should be in separate vehicles. So they are able to manage their resources in the right ways. |
| Please document how you tried to resolve the problem and list anything that, if changed, would prevent this safety issue in the future. |
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Prior to ignition, all firing and Holding resources should be familiar with the area that they will be working.
IF a radio message is given, the sender must ensure that the intended receiver got and understood the message. Don’t assume that people heard your radio transmission.
During prescribe burn with the use of UTV or ATV needs to be scouted a day or two ahead of time so both holding and firing knows where all these ditches are.
During briefings, the FIRB should brief his /her resources, and the Holding boss should brief theirs.
Make sure everyone has a handtool with them. |
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