Helitack IA Burn Injury 2014

On May 24, 2014, at approximately 1620 hours a CAL FIRE firefighter from Copter 104, of the Sonoma/Lake/Napa Unit, sustained serious burn injuries while fighting a wildland fire. Copter 104 was providing mutual aid to the City of Vallejo Fire Department at the time of the incident. The crew from Copter 104 was initiating direct fireline attack on a flank of the fire, when the firefighter stepped into a depression in the ground with the left foot, causing a loss of balance. The firefighter then fell forward contacting the ground with the left hand and right knee and during this process; the firefighter sustained first and second degree burns to the left hand, both feet and the right knee. Simultaneously a patch of brush, approximately two feet in front of the firefighter, flared up causing first and second degree burns to the firefighters face. Due to poor access of ground resources, the firefighter was initially treated and transported by Copter 104. The firefighter was transported to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, assessed and later transferred by ground ambulance to the UC Davis Medical Center burn unit.