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Horseshoe-Wild Bill Prescribed Fire Burned Line Gear 2023

  • Incident Information:

    Attachment Size
    Wild Bill Rx Burned Line Gear RLS.pdf (1.04 MB) 1.04 MB

  • Location:

    Arizona

  • Date:

    11/18/2023

  • Incident Type:

    Tree Felling

  • Keywords:

    Equipment

    Falling Operation

    Prescribed Fire

    RLS

  • Description:

    Horseshoe-Wild Bill Prescribed Fire, Coconino National Forest, Arizona. 11/18/2023

    The complexity of the trees indicated the necessity for removing line gear for firefighter safety—to quickly move along escape routes. Crewmembers removed their line gear and set them near the cleanup work on the felled hazard trees. Earlier, a drip torch that had an incorrect collar leaked because it could not properly seal. We believe this drip torch fuel absorbed into the crewmembers’ line gear. Aided by wind, the fire crept through the pine needle cast under the line gear. The fuel that had been absorbed into the material caused the line gear packs to be more flammable. The line gear was discovered to be on fire when fusee firing devices ignited in the pack’s side pouches. Crewmembers applied their drinking water to the packs to extinguish the flames.

    Tree Felling, Equipment, Prescribed Fire, RLS

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