Lava Point Escaped RX 2009

On October 3, 2009, the Zion Fire Management Program was planning to burn a 45-acre unit prior to a cold front's frontal passage. The decision was made to black line the unit's south boundary prior to the frontal passage and then burn the remainder of the unit after the front had passed. At 1100, hours a test fire was initiated. At 1230 hours, it was determined that results were within prescription parameters and met the resource objectives. The Go/No Go Checklist was approved and ignition of the unit continued. After progressing a quarter mile, multiple spot fires occurred outside of the identified unit. Firing operations were halted. Even so, personnel on scene were unable to contain the spot fires. The Burn Boss requested that the contingency resources, which were not on scene, be dispatched to support operations. The next day, with two uncontrolled spot fires and a forecasted cold front passage with high winds and no means to pay for assisting interagency resources, the Burn Boss declared the prescribed burn a wildfire at 0840 hours.

Escaped Prescribed Fire