McFarland Fire Entrapment 2021

On August 6, 2021, a 20-person hand crew was entrapped while suppressing a spot fire on an active flank of the McFarland Fire on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California. Though they had multiple lookouts in place and an accessible safety zone, factors aligned to create a sudden, exponential increase in fire behavior right along their escape route. Crewmembers escaped into the black, ran through the flames, and/or took shelter behind a dozer on the road at their location. In all, 10 people (8 crewmembers, a dozer operator, and dozer swamper) were involved in the entrapment incident. Five crewmembers received first- and second-degree burns to small portions of their bodies, and one crewmember suffered smoke inhalation. All injured firefighters have recovered.

[This data was initially provided by the USFS Weekly Summary Report.]

Hand Crews, Burn Injury, Medical Emergency, Extended Attack, Heavy Equipment, Entrapment