Canyon 66 Prescribed Fire Vehicle Accident

[The 2024 Summer Issue of Two More Chains focused on leadership and highlighted incidents in which firefighters who weren’t “in charge” suddenly needed to make leadership decisions and take action. This short summary of the “Canyon 66 Prescribed Fire Vehicle Accident”—and its lessons—was one of these writeups that originally appeared in that Two More Chains issue.]

A Fire Effects Monitor (FEMO) was driving a narrow road along the fire’s edge when visibility went to zero in extremely thick smoke. The FEMO considered stopping, but heat felt through the side window from flaming stumps along the road’s edge could have blistered the truck’s paint or damaged tires.

There was also a UTV following the FEMO on this road. Out of concern for those on the UTV having to breathe the same heavy smoke and the belief that clearer air was just ahead, prompted the FEMO's continued travel. While creeping at an estimated two mph, the FEMO felt for the upper slope edge with the truck’s right front tire.

While turning slightly to the right, the FEMO felt the back left tire drop a little, giving the impression that the rear driver-side tire was close to the road’s downhill edge.

Turning more to the right, the truck then began to slide and tip to the left. As the truck came to rest on its side, the FEMO was certain the truck had slid down from the road and was now in the fire.

Standing up on the driver-side window, unable to open the passenger-side door above, the FEMO couldn’t see anything but smoke through the cracked windshield. “I called out a medical emergency on the radio, thinking the truck would soon be on fire. I had responded to three vehicle fires in the previous month—all of them had caught fire and consumed in a matter of minutes. I put on my hardhat and tried to get my gloves off my pack which was buried under a pile of other gear. Then I heard someone outside shout ‘Are you OK in there?’ That told me it was safe enough outside, so I kicked out the windshield and a responder helped me climb out. I was utterly confused to find that I was still on the road—a reality that did not match my perception of the event.”

Are you prepared to call in your own emergency situation?