Fairview Hollow Fire Fatalities 1965

The Fairview Hollow Fire occurred in the southeast corner of Kentucky on the outskirts of the town of Harlan. It started by debris burning at approximately 1430 on March 16, 1965. During initial attack, a backfire made a run at a ridge where a Kentucky Division of Forestry handcrew--a state forest ranger and squad of four firefighters--was constructing handline and burning out. This backfire overran their location. The ranger, who was firing the handline behind the squad, yelled for the firefighters to run to safety. The ranger ran south, across the head of the fire to an adjacent hollow. Three crewmembers ran down into the hollow, where the fire overran them. All three died. The fourth crewmember ran back uphill into the backfired area, receiving only minor burns.

Those who perished on the Fairview Hollow Fire: James (Buck) Shepherd, Kenneth McKnight and William Brock. 

Firing, Initial Attack, Fatality, Entrapment