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Bear Creek Fire Chain Catch Failure 2021

  • Incident Information:

    Bear Creek Fire Chain Catch Failure RLS.pdf

  • Location:

    Minnesota

  • Date:

    07/27/2021

  • Incident Type:

    Chainsaw Cut

  • Description:

    While clearing a helispot on the Bear Creek Fire, Minnesota, a sawyer was bucking/limbing a spruce tree when they threw the saw’s chain. The saw’s chain catch, designed to help reduce the risk of operator contact by a chain when it breaks or comes off of the bar, failed—resulting in the chain missing the chaps and striking the sawyer’s inner right thigh. The sawyer was treated by an onscene EMT and was able to return to work.

    Chainsaws, RLS, Equipment, Chainsaw Cut

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