Rice Ridge Fire Entrapment 2017

Two Spotted Bear Ranger District firefighters on the Flathead National Forest were flown into the Bob Marshall Wilderness to implement a Point/Zone Protection Strategy for the Forest’s historic Hahn Cabin, located within the northern portion of the Rice Ridge Fire. This was the second consecutive Point/Zone Protection assignment for this pair of firefighters. As the fire approached the site they started pumps prepared the site for impact. The fire continued to actively burn adjacent to their Safety Zone - a near by gravel bar. The two firefighters eventually deployed a single fire shelter to prevent injuries such as burns from ember wash and/or smoke inhalation. Although they had two fire shelters, the two firefighters both took refuge under one shelter.

Structure Protection, Entrapment, Fire Shelter Deployment, Close Call