While in route to the Big Horn Fire, it was identified that the fire was in remote terrain that at first view appeared to be inaccessible by any other means than hiking. After watching the fire for roughly half an hour, the soon to be IC of the incident made the decision to hike into this fire, identifying that it was roughly 3-4 miles worth of a hike. IC grabbed two firefighters from the first responding engine and began the hike in. Both fire fighters were instructed to bring a few extra water bottles and a space blanket for overnight gear. As they progressed their hike the first respondig engine identified a possible road to make access to the fire on. After getting the ok from the IC they rendezvoused with other responding resources and then began to make their way to the newly identified road. While en route on the new road, the convoy of engines and crew trucks ran into large washed out sections and what appeared to be a swollen creek that seemed as though they couldn’t safely cross. It was beginning to get dark when the crews pulled back to an overlook area from which they could see the fire. The IC finally arrived on his fire, and through communications it appeared as though he had gone ahead of his two assigned firefighters who were now becoming lost as they tried to make entry to the fire. In the meantime, the engine leads and assistants came together to work on a game plan with the fire as it’s limited access presented a problem of res supplying the firefighters who had hiked in. Once the two lost firefighters arrived on scene they were asked the status of their water, and what was passed to the crew of engines was that on the fire scene the three of them only had four quarts of water split between them for the night. The IC then asked if the engine crews could have their two most in shape firefighters hike in the same way with five gallon water containers. The request was denied as the hike would be too dangerous in the dark. After conferring with the duty officer, the engine crews decided on a plan to have three firefighters hike in more water in the morning while the other engines retrieved a UTV and tried to make entry on the more hazardous roads. Crews assigned to the fire had been informed that they would most likely not be receiving any other resource aid in this incident.
On the morning of June 1st, the second day of the fire, the three selected firefighters began their hike to ressuply the IC and his crew at the fire. Before hiking in, they determined that the hike was not 3-4 miles, but much closer to 6 miles straight line distance. The hiking crew continued in as the UTV began to progress slowly closer to the fire. At roughly 1100, a jumper plane made it to the fire bringing six jumpers plus extra paracargo to ressuply the IC and his crew. At the same moment, the UTV made access and drove right to the fires edge. At this time the hiking crew radioed in that they were at a point designated by the IC for a creek crossing roughly 2 miles from the start of their hiking area. IC couched them to the crossing point, and the hiking crew continued. By the end of their hike, they would claim the distance had actually been roughly 10-12 miles if counting hiking up creeks to cross them. At no point were the hiking crew given an order or suggestion to halt the hike and make access through vehicle leading them to completing the long hike. |
