Likely Fire Entrapment 2012

On Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at about 11:27 AM, two CAL FIRE Handcrews were dispatched from Intermountain Conservation Camp #22 on an initial attack assignment to a vegetation fire south of Likely, California. The handcrews arrived at approximately 12:56 PM, and were assigned to anchor the fire to State Route 395 and begin constructing direct handline. At approximately 2:00 PM, the lead handcrew was constructing direct handline when the fire behavior suddenly increased during a wind shift. As the majority of the crew retreated into the black, three inmates found their escape route blocked by the advancing flame front. The inmates passed through the flame front into the black where they sustained first degree and some minor spots of second degree burns to their faces. The inmate firefighters were transported via ground ambulance to Modoc Medical Center where they were treated and released for minor burns.