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SAFENET

Wildland Fire Safety & Health Reporting Network

SAFENET Event Information

Create Agency Response

SAFENET ID:

20160810-0002        [Corrective Actions]

Event Start Date:

07/23/2016 1525

Event Stop Date:

07/23/2016 1725 

Incident Name:

Sand

Fire Number:

ANF-3164 

State:

California

Jurisdiction:

USFS

Local Unit:

Angeles National Forest Los Angeles River Ranger District

Incident Type:

Wildland

Incident Activity:

Line

Stage of Incident:

Extended Attack

Position Title:

 

Task:

Structure Protection 

Management Level:

3

Resources Involved:

 

Contributing Factors

Contributing Factors:

Fire Behavior, Communications, Human Factors

Human Factors:

Decision Making, Leadership, Situational Awareness  

Other Factors:

 

Narrative

Describe in detail what happened including the concern or potential issue, the environment (weather, terrain, fire behavior, etc), and the resulting health issue.

On July 23, 2016 at approximately at 15:15 Hours The Sand Fire Angeles National Forest Incident Number ANF-3164, an “in-alignment fire run Burned Over” The Bear Divide fire station, entrapping 14 Firefighters. The Firefighters led by Structure Group had to make decisive decision during flight or fight and made the correct decision by giving the command through leader’s intent for all 14 Firefighters to “Shelter In Place”! Because of the situation and fast moving fire, they only had seconds to enter the Bear Divide Hotshot Quarters. Firefighters had to stay sheltered in place for undetermined about of time do to the intense fire behavior, heat and Hazardous Smoke from 5 residents that caught fire. A Forest Service recreation vehicle was also on fire. Adding to the exposure to Hazardous Material Smoke to all 14 firefighters. Once the fire crossed Little Tujunga canyon road from the east and was now posing a threat to the station, a firing operation commenced by that time it was to late and over the radio the words “Run Run Run” all 14 firefighters made it into the Bear Divide Hotshot quarters.

Immediate Action Taken

Reporting Individual : please describe actions you took to correct or mitigate the unsafe/unhealthful event.

Narrative Continued As of this date I believe there has been no CA-1’s, CA-2’s or Exposure forms filed, nor has any of the employees been medically checked out for the exposure to Hazard Material smoke and particulates. After reviewing Chapter 18 of the Interagency Standards Fire and Aviation Operations Guide Reviews and Investigations, Wildland Fire Incident and Accident Types and Definitions situation can easily be defined and falls into the category of Near Miss Entrapment "Burn Over", which would require Washington Office notification. Immediate Action Taken In Summary it is common knowledge what took place at Bear Divide Fire Station, with five residences burning down and a Forest Service vehicle destroyed and a shelter in place Burn Over Entrapment by 14 Firefighters that it warrants an immediate investigation so that the lessons learned from this can be shared with all fire personnel to avoid future entrapments.

Agency Response

20160810-0002-CA001

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