Las Pilitas Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1950

A crew of 20 men were entrapped between the main fire and a firing operation on the Las Pilitas Fire, San Luis Obispo County, California, with four unable to escape and suffering fatal injuries. The four men were identified as three soldiers from Fort Ord and a firefighter with California Department of Forestry (now CAL FIRE), Gerald "Jerry" O'Reilly. The soldiers were part of a force of over 100 sent to the fire to assist in suppression. Rains on July 9 helped with the control of the fire, which burned about 28,000 acres in total. The names of the soldiers, members of the 60th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, are not available. 

Entrapment, Fatality, Burn Injury, Firing, Hand Crews