Re: Fire On The Mountain Firefighters killed
Once again the season is here for wildfires. So remember to be extra careful in the woods when smoking, or running a saw. Most importantly CAMPFIRES.
Here is a link to the full story.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/fire/30mile/index.html
Here is part of the story. Very sad. This happened last week
The Thirty Mile Fire was first discovered during the evening of July 9. An unattended camp fire is the suspected cause. During the afternoon of July 11, 2001, high winds developed causing the Thirty Mile Fire in the Chewuch River Valley, north of Winthrop, WA to blow up and grow from approximately 5 acres to over 2500 acres within 2 ½ hours.
21 firefighters and 2 civilians were entrapped in a narrow canyon of the Chewuch River Valley.
Fires shelters were deployed in an area surrounded by fire on all sides. Four firefighters were killed and another four firefighters and 2 civilians were injured. Most of the injured are either in satisfactory condition or have been treated and released with one exception. One firefighter was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA and is listed as serious and stable.
“This is a great tragedy and loss that is felt by all firefighters and agency employees everywhere,” said Sonny J. O’Neal Forest Service Supervisor of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. “Firefighters are a family and any time a firefighter is killed, grief is felt by all.”
A national investigation team will visit the site today to determine the cause of the tragedy and to look for lessons that can improve firefighter safety everywhere.
A national Type I incident management team is assembling today to assume responsibility for suppression of the Thirty Mile Fire.
Families of firefighters killed and injured have been notified. All firefighters entrapped were members of a combined crew from the Naches Ranger District and the Lake Wenatchee and Leavenworth Ranger District of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.
Those killed include Tom L. Craven, 30, Ellensburg, WA; Karen L. Fitzpatrick, 18, Yakima, WA; Devin A. Weaver, 21, Yakima, WA; and Jessica L. Johnson, 19, Yakima, WA.
Those injured are: Jason W. Emhoff, 21, Yakima, WA, who was transported to Harborview Medical Center and is currently listed as serious and stable; Thomas R. Taylor, 31, Leavenworth, WA, to be released from Brewster Hospital this morning; Scott Sherzinger, 24, Selah, WA treated and released; and Rebecca Welch, 22, Naches, WA, treated and released.
Because of the remoteness of the entrapment site, and the need for an investigation, it will not be possible to recover the bodies until today.
Today, the Thirty Mile Fire is being monitored as a strategy is being developed for its suppression.
The exact size will not be known until mapping is completed. The new incident management team will determine numbers of firefighters and types of equipment needed to suppress the fire.
Please be extra careful out there!
My prayers go out to their families
The 2 civilian backpackers were saved by one of the female firefighters who took them into her fire shelter which is only room for one. She was burned but survived as the two backpackers were saved due to her quick act of heroism
Gordon
