Leona 2002

On September 3, 2002, at approximately 1415 hours, two Los Angeles County Fire Department Engine crews responded as part of a first-alarm assignment to a wildland fire located at 37881 Bouquet Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest. The fire was impinging on a structure that one of the engines had been assigned to protect. Due to the radiant heat, the engine crew decided to enter the engine. One of the occupants suggested that they use their shelters to deflect the radiant heat from entering the engine cab. They used two shelters to wrap the engine's rear windows of the engine. The crew members remained in the engine's cab for 3-5 minutes as the flame front passed. The Captain checked all of the crews for health and injury and found everyone OK. The damage to one engine consisted of blistered varnish on the ladder and some melted plastic on the control panel on the engine's left side.

Structure Protection, Engines, Fire Shelter Deployment, Initial Attack, Entrapment