Battlement Creek Fatality Fire 1976

The Battlement Creek Fire was estimated to have started July 11, 1976 on BLM lands in Western Colorado. Significant action was not taken on the fire until July 15, at which time it increased in behavior in size. A B-26 airtanker crashed while assigned to the fire July 16. Mormon Lakes Hotshots arrived on the fire on July 16 and began a firing operation that continued the following day. The crew was assigned to line improvement and firing on the ridgeline while another crew fired a different part of the fire. The line construction squad of Mormon Lake relocated to the safety zone while the firing team of 4 tried to create black along the ridgeline. Before the firing team could reach the safety zone, the flame front from the other firing operation ran to the top of the ridge and entrapped them. Three of the firing team perished, while the fourth suffered severe burn injuries. 

Those Mormon Lake Hotshots lost on the Battlement Creek Fire were: Anthony Czak, Stephen Furey, and Scott Nelson. 

Extended Attack, Burn Injury, Firing, Fatality, Entrapment, Hand crews