| Thursday afternoon the timber shop was out in the Timber Sale marking boundary trees, GPSing and paint checking. Early afternoon the wind started to pick up, RH was down, temperature was high and the fire started to pick up. Trees were torching and smoke columns were high. We were directly across the street from the fire. It was starting to get big and the paint crew was out of the unit and into the truck. A fire guy came by and told it was time to leave the field and head back to the office. I did not inform any other timber personnel in the woods. The crew and I packed up and went back to the office. On the way back, co workers had got ahold of me on the radio to make sure I was heading back to the office. When we were all safely back, my coworker approached me and asked why I had not told them to leave the field and that fire danger was high. Unfortunately, I made a terrible judgement call. I didn't inform anyone that was the direction given and left it up to them to decide for themselves. After that conversation I now know that communication is key and I should have called the front desk to inform them that all employees should leave that area. Luckily, the fire didn't cross the road but it is lessons learned. |
