Crest Trail Fire Hit by Log 2024

A crewmember on an engine assigned to the Crest Trail Fire, Coronado National Forest, had bucked up a large (30 inch) tree into 2-foot sections and placed those to the side. Work on the fire was continuing when the crewmember heard a noise and looked up to see one of the rounds rolling down the hill approximately 30 feet above him. The crewmember attempted to avoid the rolling round but lost his footing, fell into a prone position facing uphill, and was struck on top of the hard hat by the round. The crewmember experienced neck pain, bi-lateral shoulder/arm numbness, disorientation, and later developed nausea as the disorientation improved. A paramedic met the patient as an agency vehicle moved the crewmember 8 miles to the helispot. The crewmember was flown by helicopter from Portal, Arizona to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, AZ. The crewmember was evaluated and released at ~2400hrs on 08/15/24 with a referral to a neurosurgeon for evaluation and completion of an MRI.

[This data was provided by the USFS Weekly Summary Report.]

Hit by Log, Medevac, Engines