Jack Wells Fire Engine Burnover 2024

On October 1, 2024, two Type 6 engines were engaged in suppression actions on a fast-moving wind-driven fire. The crews were tasked with holding a road to prevent the fire from crossing over to the road’s south side. Initially, the fire was burning with 4-5- foot flame lengths in old-growth sage and bitterbrush. Around 3:00 p.m., a sudden wind shift caused the fire’s behavior to change rapidly—with flame lengths increasing to 8-10 feet. The initial attack plan was to suppress the fire as it approached the road. But with this sudden wind shift, the radiant heat from the fire intensified—causing flame lengths to surge to 15-20 feet. As the fire’s intensity grew, both engines were engulfed by flames, and the crews sought cover behind their engines for protection. The firefighters were not injured, and the engines were able to continue fire operations, though they sustained heat damage to plastic parts such as mirrors and lightbars. 

RLS