Station Fire Fatalities 2009

On Sunday, August 30th, 2009 the Station Fire approached Los Angeles County Fire Department Mt. Gleason Fire Camp 16 (Camp 16). The fast approaching fire impacted Camp 16 at approximately 1645 hrs. and continued to burn throughout Camp 16 until approximately 1830 hrs. with high intensity. 

A planned firing operation was initiated on a mid-slope road just below Camp 16 and running parallel to the ridge. The firing operation was started below the helipad and continued to the southeast. The fire began impacting the camp on the north end. Communication with the firing team was lost when the fire began impacting the southern end of the Camp; approximately 11 minutes after the fire impacted the north end of the camp.

The firing team and their vehicle were discovered approximately 800 feet off the road in the ravine to the south of the camp. Both personnel assigned to the firing operation were found deceased.

Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones and Tedmund "Ted" Hall perished in the entrapment near Camp 16 on the Station Fire.