Coal Canyon Fire Entrapment Fatality 2011

On August 11, 2011, at approximately 1330, U.S. Forest Service, South Dakota State, and Volunteer Fire Department personnel responded to a fire in Coal Canyon on the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota. During initial attack, the Incident Commander formulated a plan: use hose lay and hand line to work up from the heel on the right flank, use the helicopter to make bucket drops along the left flank. As additional resources arrived, the IC, perceiving the increasing complexity, requested a type 3 organization through dispatch. Shortly after, as fire behavior increased and compromised an egress route, fire entrapped and overran firefighters attempting escape. Firefighter Trampus Haskvitz died, two others received serious burns, and two received minor burns. Two firefighters were entrapped in the engine; one remained entrapped and died; the other escaped. The third firefighter, who was overrun by fire while on foot, was transported to a Greeley, Colorado Burn Center.

Initial Attack, Entrapment, Engines, Fatality, Entrapment