Los Posadas Fire Station Accident Fatality 1961

Harry Eitzen, Jr., a 19-year-old college student at the University of California, Berkeley, and a firefighter with the California Department of Forestry (now CAL FIRE) was critically burned in a station accident at the Los Posadas Fire Station near Angwin. On the afternoon of September 23, 1961, firefighters were disposing of oil-soaked rags by burning them in a pile outside. Eitzen kicked an unburnt rag into the pile. The rag ignited instantly and stuck to Eitzen's boot. Reacting in surprise, he accidentally bumped into a container of gasoline that was nearby. An immediate flashfire resulted and Eitzen was engulfed in flames. Firefighter Carl Vogt immediately called for help and attempted to aid Eitzen, himself receiving burns to his hands. Other firefighters used their engine's pump to spray a fog pattern of water and suppress the fire. Eitzen was burned over more than 50 percent of his body. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance where, at 0630 the following morning, he succumbed to his injuries. 

Burn Injury, Fatality