Big Windy Fire Water Tender Fatality 2013

On August 5, 2013, support water tender E-220, a 1966 International Harvester truck, entered into service on the Big Windy Complex, outside of Grants Pass, Oregon, and was assigned to night shift. On August 5, E-220 reported to Drop Point (DP) 21 at 1800, completed the night shift period on August 6 at 0700, and was released shortly thereafter to travel back to the Incident Command Post (ICP). The return route, via Bear Camp Road 1 to the highway, is a narrow, winding, paved mountain road with a steep downhill grade (up to 10 percent). As E-220 descended Bear Camp Road with the other water tenders and incident vehicles assigned to the night shift, he was observed gaining speed, traveling at speeds judged to be higher than the cautionary, posted 15 mph and up to approximately 40 mph by witnesses on scene. Toward the bottom of the downgrade, at approximately 0721, the operator lost control of E-220 which rolled over, landing on its cab. The E-220 operator, Jesse Trader, sustained fatal injuries in the accident.