Dry Fire Entrapment 1959

A hand crew had been engaged in line construction on the Dry Fire on the Sequoia National Forest, California, and were forced into the black several times through the day due to fire behavior. James Bastady and another firefighter were sent to replenish drinking water for their crew while they constructed handline in hot weather. At 1230 hrs (alternately reported as 1330 hrs), the fire made another run while the two men returned with water and hiked along an adjacent ridge to the rest of the crew. The fire crossed below these men, who were walking through the green to rejoin the crew. Warnings shouted by the crew were not heard until it was too late for the men to reach the black. They took refuge in a group of large rocks, where they were entrapped by the fire for around 10 minutes and received burn injuries. Both men were evacuated by helicopter and taken to hospitals, Bastady eventually being admitted to the US Public Health Hospital in San Francisco, where he perished from his injuries on July 17. 

Entrapment, Fatality, Burn Injury, Hand Crews, Medevac