SLAUGHTER GULCH FIRE

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SLAUGHTER GULCH FIRE

• July 23, 2005

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REPRESENTATIVE FUELS
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Looking North, note the Structures
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• Lightning caused fire
• Sagebrush with heavy cheatgrass understory
• ROS 5-10, FL 4-5

• Down-canyon winds
• Thunder storms in the area
• Most resources at structures up the canyon

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• BMFPD Engine B-810 (2 personnel) arrive on
  scene.
• Sets up even with the head and begins to
  deploy hard-line

• App. 100 of unburned fuel between and the
  fire and B-810

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• BLM Engine 605 (3 personnel) and
  605 Chase (4 personnel) arrive on scene from the
  south
• B-810 pulls off road (facing away from the
  road) to allow vehicles to pass

• 2 Rifle Helitack arrive on foot
• All personnel out of vehicles, E-605 crew
  putting on fire line gear
• 11 personnel on site

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• This occurs approximately 45 seconds after
  E-605s arrival
• Fire intensity and Rate-of-Spread increase

• Downdraft from cumulonimbus cloud causes wind
  to increase and change direction

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• E-605 w/ 3 drive up canyon to the black

• Chase 605 w/ 4 backs down canyon
• B-810 crew (2) goes south on foot
• Rifle Helitack (2) goes south on foot, leave a
  chainsaw on the west side of the road

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• B-810 (unstaffed) is left in where it was
  parked facing out

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• Fire crosses Slaughter Gulch Road

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• B-810 becomes involved, receives moderate
  damage
• Rifle Helitack chainsaw is destroyed

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• Approximately 5 minutes after the wind shift,
  heavy rains hit the fire area, stopping fire
  spread

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18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS

• Fire not scouted and sized up.
• In country not seen in daylight.
• Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
• Unfamiliar with weather and local factors
  influencing fire behavior
• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
• Instructions and assignments not clear.
• No communication link between crewmembers
  andsupervisors.
• Constructing line without safe anchor point.
• Building line downhill with fire below.
• Attempting frontal assault on fire.
• Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
• Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone
  who can.
• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite
  fuel below.
• Weather gets hotter and drier.
• Wind increases and/or changes direction.
• Getting frequent spot fires across line.
• Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones
  difficult.
• Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

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18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS

• Fire not scouted and sized up.
• In country not seen in daylight.
• Safety zones and escape routes not identified!
• Unfamiliar with weather and local factors
  influencing fire behavior
• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
• Instructions and assignments not clear.
• No communication link between crewmembers
  andsupervisors.
• Constructing line without safe anchor point.
• Building line downhill with fire below.
• Attempting frontal assault on fire.
• Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
• Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone
  who can.
• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite
  fuel below.
• Weather gets hotter and drier.
• Wind increases and/or changes direction.
• Getting frequent spot fires across line.
• Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones
  difficult.
• Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

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18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS

• Fire not scouted and sized up.
• In country not seen in daylight.
• Safety zones and escape routes not identified!
• Unfamiliar with weather and local factors
  influencing fire behavior
• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
• Instructions and assignments not clear.
• No communication link between crewmembers
  andsupervisors.
• Constructing line without safe anchor point!
• Building line downhill with fire below.
• Attempting frontal assault on fire.
• Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
• Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone
  who can.
• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite
  fuel below.
• Weather gets hotter and drier.
• Wind increases and/or changes direction.
• Getting frequent spot fires across line.
• Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones
  difficult.
• Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

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18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS

• Fire not scouted and sized up.
• In country not seen in daylight.
• Safety zones and escape routes not identified!
• Unfamiliar with weather and local factors
  influencing fire behavior
• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
• Instructions and assignments not clear.
• No communication link between crewmembers
  andsupervisors.
• Constructing line without safe anchor point!
• Building line downhill with fire below.
• Attempting frontal assault on fire!
• Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
• Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone
  who can.
• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite
  fuel below.
• Weather gets hotter and drier.
• Wind increases and/or changes direction.
• Getting frequent spot fires across line.
• Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones
  difficult.
• Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

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18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS

• Fire not scouted and sized up.
• In country not seen in daylight.
• Safety zones and escape routes not identified!
• Unfamiliar with weather and local factors
  influencing fire behavior
• Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards.
• Instructions and assignments not clear.
• No communication link between crewmembers
  andsupervisors.
• Constructing line without safe anchor point!
• Building line downhill with fire below.
• Attempting frontal assault on fire!
• Unburned fuel between you and the fire!
• Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone
  who can.
• On a hillside where rolling material can ignite
  fuel below.
• Weather gets hotter and drier.
• Wind increases and/or changes direction.
• Getting frequent spot fires across line.
• Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones
  difficult.
• Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

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10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS

1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and
   forecasts
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior
   of the fire.
4. Identify escape routes and make them known.
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act
   decisively.
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces,
   your supervisor and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and insure they are
   understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for
    safety first.

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10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS

1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and
   forecasts
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior
   of the fire!
4. Identify escape routes and make them known.
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act
   decisively.
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces,
   your supervisor and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and insure they are
   understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for
    safety first.

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10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS

1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and
   forecasts
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior
   of the fire!
4. Identify escape routes and make them known!
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act
   decisively.
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces,
   your supervisor and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and insure they are
   understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for
    safety first.

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10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS

1. Keep informed on fire weather conditions and
   forecasts
2. Know what your fire is doing at all times.
3. Base all actions on current and expected behavior
   of the fire!
4. Identify escape routes and make them known!
5. Post lookouts when there is possible danger.
6. Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act
   decisively.
7. Maintain prompt communications with your forces,
   your supervisor and adjoining forces.
8. Give clear instructions and insure they are
   understood.
9. Maintain control of your forces at all times.
10. Fight fire aggressively, having provided for
    safety first!

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