Freedom Fire 2014

The Freedom Fire was ignited by a lighting strike this August 18 in a steep, rough, remote area of southern Oregon. Due to the fire’s location, the decision was made to insert Rappellers to suppress the fire. The fire was a quarter-acre in size, positioned in the middle 1/3 of the slope with a thick underbrush component. The lightning struck tree was 100-feet tall with a 45-inch diameter on a 130-150 percent southwest-facing slope. The upper 1/3 of the strike tree was actively burning, throwing burning materials downslope into the fire area. The strike tree had a heavy lean over the fire. All three Rappellers assessed the strike tree and decided a “C” Faller (FALC) was needed to bring the tree to the ground. IC-1 ordered a FALC. While waiting for the FALC, the strategy was to construct a hand line around the fire outside of the strike tree’s potential fall zone. At approximately 1515 hours, the CRWB(t), using a Stihl 066 with a 36-inch bar to fall the strike tree, made a Humboldt facecut to lessen the chances of the tree “jumping off” the stump. As the CRWB(t) was performing the boring back-cut, the chainsaw kicked back a little bit—but was controlled by the CRWB(t). He continued to bore-in. Next, the saw kicked-back violently, spinning a full 360 degrees, knocking him off balance. As the CRWB(t) slid downslope, performing a “spinning ballet type move” he tried to throw the saw up and away from his body. Just as he did this, the chain made contact with his left shoulder between the neck and the shoulder joint.