Compartment 68 Rx UTV Rollover 2023

On February 18, the Oakmulgee Ranger District, National Forests of Alabama, conducted the Compartment 68 Prescribed Fire (Rx). This was the District’s first “large burn” of the season. 

As ignitions were winding up on the Rx, the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Trainee [RXB(T)] asked the UTV operator to assist with a small spot fire that had “jumped” a section of the fireline. As the two firefighters traveled along the dozer line, they went down a small grade and then back up a hill. At about this time, the back passenger tire (rear right) sunk into a rut—and the front of the machine raised up. When the machine leaned back, the straps holding the tank into the bed of the UTV broke. With the machine already raising—and the tank sliding to the rear—the machine was levered further back toward the right, where the wheel had sunk into the rut. The passenger yelled, “Back up; back up!” to try and get the front of the UTV down. However, the machine had begun to tip over to the right. There were no injuries or serious damage.

RLS