Engine Patrol Incident 2013

After several days of thunderstorms and rain, a Type VI Engine was completing Fire Detection Patrols in drainages that had recently received storm activity. Around 1300, the engine was traveling up a steep, narrow drainage on an FS road when they met two ATVs traveling down-drainage on this road. The ATV drivers would not yield right-of-way to the engine. The engine driver pulled over onto the shoulder of the road to allow the ATVs to pass. The engine driver, once again, slowly crept forward. As the vehicle inched ahead, the road shoulder gave out under the outside back tires (down slope side). The driver immediately stopped.