Funston Road Fire Entrapment 2024

The Funston Road Fire was reported on April 18, 2024, around 1224 hours. During suppression efforts the fire escaped containment on multiple occasions. Trafficability for personnel and equipment was extremely difficult through heavy pocosin fuels. During one of the spotovers, two firefighters found themselves in unburned fuel ahead of the fire. Both firefighters were able to utilize their escape routes prior to head fire passing their locations. At approximately the same time a tractor-plow was stuck due to wet and difficult terrain. The operator and FFT2 abandoned the tractor-plow and utilized their escape route back to an identified safety zone. This tractor-plow was subsequently burned over as the head fire passed by. During efforts to recover the stuck tractor-plow the right flank of the fire flared up. With the escape route and safety zone compromised by this flare up, the operator of a second tractor-plow was entrapped and burned over. There were no injuries and no medical attention was needed or received. Both tractor-plow units were operational but did sustain minor damage.

Entrapment, heavy equipment, initial attack, LCES