GREEN SHEET California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Informational Summary Report of Serious CDF Injuries, Illnesses, Accidents and Near-Miss Incidents San Diego Unit Engine Burnover with Burn Injuries October 21, 2007 Harris Incident CA-MVU-010427 Accident Incident CA-MVU-010433 Accident Review Incident CA-CSR-000101 California Southern Region A Board of Review has not approved this Summary Report. It is intended as a safety and training tool, an aid to preventing future occurrences, and to inform interested parties. Because it is published on a short time frame, the information contained herein is subject to revision as further investigation is conducted and additional information is developed.
SUMMARY On October 21, 2007, a CAL FIRE engine company was entrapped while engaged in structure protection operations on the Harris Fire. One civilian was injured and another died at the accident scene. Two CAL FIRE firefighters were critically burned and the other two firefighters were seriously burned as they attempted to evacuate the civilians. All firefighters and the one surviving civilian were air lifted to the University of California, San Diego Burn Center for treatment. CONDITIONS Location: Topography: Fuel Type: The incident occurred 1 mile south west of Potrero, California near Hwy. 94. The fire was on private property in State Responsibility Area, (Latitude: 32 35'58.22"N Longitude: 116 37'40.74"W). The accident site was on a ridge within a drainage branch north of Potrero Creek Canyon, approximately one mile southwest of the Potrero CAL FIRE Station. The area of the accident site was on a small ridge top with small drainages to the north and south running east to west. Slopes ranged from 18% to 35% to the north. The fuels within the area represent native California chaparral 3 8 in height comprised mostly of chamise and associated species. The fuel type is USDA Standard Fire Behavior Fuel Model SH7 (147), very heavy load, dry climate shrub. The fuels are discontinuous, broken by rock outcrops throughout the area. Fuel Moisture: 5% 10-hour fuel, 50% live fuel (WIMS). Weather Observations: 12:14 PM from Potrero RAWS Station (1.2 mile NE) Rainfall: Temperature: 69 RH: 8% Winds: 27 mph ENE, gusts to 51 mph. January 1 to October 20, 2007, 5.21 from Potrero RAWS.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS On the morning of October 21, 2007 the San Diego Unit began experiencing Santa Ana wind conditions. At 9:37 a.m. the San Diego Unit Emergency Command Center (ECC) received a report of a vegetation fire on Harris Ranch Road, located east of Potrero in southern San Diego County. The ECC dispatched a vegetation fire on a high response level. Engine 3387 was subsequently assigned to move-up and cover the Dulzura CAL FIRE Station. Based on witness accounts and radio transmissions, the fire was estimated to have burned from the origin to the Potrero CAL FIRE Station, approximately 2.25 miles, within the first 90 minutes. A Fire Captain observed the fire cross Highway 188, 4.2 miles from the origin, within the first 3 hours. Witness accounts describe the fire activity as a running fire with spotting up to three-quarters of a mile, sheeting and limited area ignition. By 6:00 p.m. the fire was estimated at 13,266 acres. At 11:11 a.m. Engine 3387 was assigned to Strike Team 9330C and dispatched directly to the fire from Dulzura CAL FIRE Station. Engine 3387 responded to the fire via Highway 94 and arrived at scene at approximately 11:30 a.m. Engine 3387 drove through the fire and began a mobile attack on the left flank, south of Highway 94. Unable to continue the mobile attack operations due to terrain features, Engine 3387 then began structure protection and checked roads for threatened structures to the west of Potrero on the south side of Highway 94. The Incident Commander advised all personnel to use flanking tactics on the fire and not attempt a frontal attack. Engine 3387 proceeded south on a dirt access road from Highway 94 toward several residences. They made contact with a Fire Crew Strike Team Leader (STCR). While the STCR and Fire Captain discussed the fire behavior, they observed a white pickup operated by a civilian adult, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) operated by a civilian juvenile, and a San Diego Sheriff's Office (SDSO) Deputy drive north on the access road to their location. Upon meeting the civilians, the adult requested the Engine Company to check on his house, which was further south on the access road. The adult told the Fire Captain there were still other residents in a second home nearby. The Fire Captain and the STCR advised the adult and juvenile to evacuate out of the area and Engine 3387 drove in to check the property. Despite the commands to evacuate, the two civilians followed E3387 towards the structure on their ATV. As Engine 3387 traveled midway down the drainage north of the residence, ( observation point noted on vicinity map) the Fire Captain observed black (already burned vegetation) on both sides of the road. They continued into the drainage and the smoke became very dense. The Fire Captain began to back out of the area. Suddenly, the adult and juvenile appeared at the side of the engine. They advised the crew their ATV had stopped running. Engine Company 3387 took the adult and juvenile into the cab of the engine ( abandoned ATV noted on vicinity map). The adult advised the Fire Captain of a good turn-around location near his residence and a good water supply so the Fire Captain continued driving south on the access road toward the residence.
The Fire Captain stopped the engine on the driveway just east of the double-wide mobile home residence. He directed the firefighters to extinguish the vegetation in close proximity to the northeast side of the residence. The Fire Captain then drove up the driveway to a position just past the mobile home, where he directed Firefighter # 1 to deploy the 1 1/2" front discharge hose line to extinguish vegetation next to the northwest side of mobile home. The Engine Company instructed the civilians to remain in the cab of the fire engine for their safety. The Fire Captain inspected the structure and observed smoke emanating from the attic vents. The windows on the east side of the residence broke out revealing the living room heavily involved in fire. The Fire Captain directed the firefighters to abandon the operation and get in the engine. Before the Fire Captain returned to the cab of the fire engine, he saw a small, rubber-tired tractor operated by a civilian in a clearing behind the engine. The Fire Captain observed smoke and flame impacting the rear of the fire engine and could not back out due to the proximity of the tractor. The Fire Captain moved the fire engine forward, out of the direct flame contact and positioned the engine on the south side of the access road as far from the structure as he could. Extremely strong winds accelerated the burning conditions in the structure fire, and it rapidly became fully involved, with direct flame contact again to the passenger side of Engine 3387. The Fire Captain directed Firefighter # 1 to use the front discharge hose line to cool the structure while they backed out. Firefighter #1 exited the vehicle, deployed the hose line, and sprayed water on the structure. The Fire Captain began backing out and the engine stopped running, due to a lack of available oxygen. The Fire Captain directed the two remaining firefighters to cover the windows on the right side with fire shelters. Before the shelters could be deployed, the passenger windows broke due to heat, immediately filling the cab with flame, heat and smoke. The Fire Captain instructed everyone in the cab to get out and take refuge in a rocky clearing to the southeast of the fire engine. The Fire Captain assisted the juvenile and met the two firefighters in the clearing. The adult was later found deceased near the front of the engine. Concurrently Firefighter # 1 became enveloped in flames that blew from the upwind structure. He retreated to the west where he deployed his fire shelter in a pasture with sparse vegetation ( shelter location noted on vicinity map). The firefighter lost the shelter after about 10 minutes due to the windy conditions. He located and took refuge behind large rocks. At 12:28 p.m. Firefighter # 2 made a distress call to the San Diego (MVU) ECC on MVU local net. The ECC cleared the air for the emergency traffic. The Fire Captain notified the Harris Air Attack of the burnover on Air to Ground frequency. Hearing the emergency radio traffic, the pilot of Helicopter 538 began searching for the crew from Engine 3387. The pilot discovered the crew, found a nearby location to land, and loaded the Fire Captain, Firefighters #2 and #3 and the juvenile. Helicopter 538 flew them to the Potrero CAL FIRE Station. Helicopter 538 returned to the accident site to locate Firefighter #1. The pilot was notified by a STCR that he had found Firefighter #1. Helicopter 538 landed, loaded and transported the firefighter to the Potrero CAL FIRE Station. Approximately 40 minutes elapsed between the time Firefighter #1 escaped from the structure fire until his evacuation.
At the Potrero CAL FIRE Station, the crew and juvenile received medical care from a local government ALS engine, assisted by CAL FIRE employees. They were then transported by medical helicopters to the Burn Center at the University of California San Diego Hospital. INJURIES/DAMAGES Two firefighters were critically burned, two firefighters were seriously burned, one civilian was critically burned, and one civilian perished at the scene. One 1993 CAL FIRE Type III Model 15 was completely destroyed. SAFETY ISSUES FOR REVIEW Situational awareness (scene size up) Structure protection tactics (engine placement) Personal protective equipment Escape Routes Communication (Proper frequency monitoring) Safety Zones INCIDENTAL ISSUES FOR REVIEW Structure protection triage procedures Risk versus gain analysis while in a wildland urban interface operation Appropriate actions taken with onboard evacuees Appropriate actions taken with evacuee informational input
Harris Serious Accident Detailed Area of Accident Site E-3387 Wildland Fire Burnover CA-MVU-010427 - October 21, 2007 Location where FF-1 sheltered behind rock. Gate FF-1 escaped through. Singlewide trailer 35 to 45% 35 to 45% Watertanks Small shed Double-wide trailer (Approx imately 70-f e e t ) 10 to 15% 15 to 20% (Ap proxima tely 200-feet from E-338 7 ) E-3387 (Approximately 170- f 10 to 20% Approximate Location FF-1 deployed fire shelter. 20% Location of FF-1 prior to burnover 10 to 20% Location of Victim #1 e et fro m E-3387) Rocky clearing area utilized by FC, two FF-1's, and Victim #2.
Harris Serious Accident Vicinity Map E-3387 Wildland Fire Burnover CA-MVU-010427 - October 21, 2007 Accident Site State Highway Access Route Roads Miles 0.5 oa d 0 Ac ce s sr 94 Shelter Location Eme Observation Point Abandoned ATV ne ry L a Residence Eme r 188 or Airp ad t Ro y Ro ad S S aa nn D D ii ee gg oo C C oo uu nn tt yy,, C CA A Accident Site Wind Direction J. Martinez 2007.11.01