Initial Attack Risk Management Life First 2018

On July 9 two rappelers were inserted into a small fire. After the rappel was complete, the acting Duty Officer observed the helicopter lift out a drainage that had been identified as an area that had few values and posed a much higher risk to firefighters on the ground. The Forest described this area as a place to not put ground personnel due to: the remote rugged terrain, cliffs, steep slopes, inability to quickly respond to a medical emergency, limited values at risk, along with other hazards. After a comprehensive recon flight, the Duty Officer chose to pull the rappelers off of the fire. “It was one of the toughest decisions that I’ve made. But I had to pull them off of the hill.”

Initial Attack, Helicopters, RLS