I arrived on scene there was no clear IC, before I arrived three name were given as possible IC, the person I received my initial assignment from had the IC in his truck. The assignment was to secure the east line to protect a home. My engine was about to engage when the IC and the person that was acting for him, asked if we could scout the north side of the fire as no one had seen the area. As I was putting my gear on and checking my radio. I heard a loud bang, from the house that was approximately 2 chains to the east of me, then something hit me on the right shoulder. Thinking it was a piece of the burning debris I had my crewmember check the passenger side of the engine, they found a bullet, still hot. I was uninjured and caused no damage to the engine.
I informed the IC over the radio that ammunition was going off and I had been hit by a bullet. I tried to let the IC know that I was uninjured and that there was no damaged to the engine. I was unaware that my traffic did not get though as the volunteer fire departments that where on scene flooded the command channel with traffic for their resources to got out of that area. I found out later when my crewmember received a call from the forest manager that dispatch and some of my coworker had heard the traffic and where worried and did not know my status. We informed the forest manager that I was uninjured. At that time I gave the IC an update on the status of the north side of the fire and that I was the one hit by the bullet and uninjured. |