Hamlin 1983

Three U.S. Forest Service firefighters received minor burns during an escaped California Department of Forestry control burn. Had they not deployed their fire shelters, they would have been seriously burned or worse. The crewman suffering the worst injuries was forced from his shelter because his boots and pants caught fire when vegetation burned within his shelter. He received burns to his knees and legs from ground fire and facial burns from radiant heat after leaving his shelter. Goggles saved his eyes from injury. Another firefighter had minor face burns from vegetation burning in his shelter. He had eye irritation from cinders and ashes because his goggles were not used. The third firefighter had initially decided not to use his shelter because it had two inch slits and pinholes along creases. However, another firefighter convinced him that it was better than no protection. As it turned out, he suffered least of all, as his deployment area was relatively clear of vegetation and therefore did not burn as hot.

Prescribed Fire, Fire Shelter Deployment, Burn Injury, Entrapment