Bald Sisters Fire 2014

A Type 2 Initial Attack Crew was prepping a U.S. Forest Service system road for possible burn-out operations on Division Echo on the Bald Sisters Fire. The specs the crew had received were to limb-up ladder fuels, buck-up dead and down, and thin-out some of the smaller fir trees. FALA and FFT1(t) had a quick discussion about felling procedures regarding this cluster of trees. The first tree to be cut was a fir that had was 4-inch diameter at breast height (DBH) and 25-feet tall. Even though FALA gave a warning shout “Tree Falling”, this was not heard by all the crewmembers on the squad. FALA then looked to FFT1(t) for “approval” to cut the tree. FFT1(t) gave a thumbs up. FALA proceeded to cut the tree downhill toward the road. The rest of the squad was downslope and progressing along just behind FALA. One of the Firefighters was bending over to pick up some limbs from one of the previously cut trees when she heard FFT1(t) yell: “Look out!” The Firefighter stood and looked up just as the top of the tree struck her on the back between the spine and the right shoulder blade. The diagnosis from the ER doctor was for minor scrapes and bruising to the right shoulder area. The Firefighter was released from the ER with direction to take it easy for the rest of the day and return to work the following day with no restrictions.