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Incident Information:
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Location:
Montana -
Date:
08/02/2017 -
Incident Type:
Hit by Tree -
Description:
The Lolo Peak Fire was detected on July 15, 2017, at approximately 1430 (2:30 p.m.) in a unique section of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. On August 2, the Vista Grande Hotshot Crew was assigned to cut snags along Carlton Ridge Road, and broke into four teams to complete this task. After lunch, sawyer Brent Witham was falling a dead whitebark pine, 15" in diameter and 50 feet tall, when the snag fell off the stump while Witham was pounding wedges. The snag fell 100 degrees off its intended lay, striking Witham and causing fatal injuries.
Hand Crews, Medevac, Extended Attack, Fatality, Chainsaws, Medical Emergency, Falling Operation, Hit by Tree
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