Maple Springs Fire Leaf Blower Fuel Geyser 2016

Feeling like productivity would be greater if they filled the leaf blower while it remained on the operator’s back, FF#2 opened the Dolmar and handed the cap to the leaf blower operator. FF#2 then proceeded to open the leaf blower fuel tank’s cap. This caused a geyser of fuel to erupt from the leaf blower onto the equipment—and onto FF#2. This refueling operation was taking place approximately eight feet off the active fireline. When the leaf blower geysered, it ignited the Dolmar and the leaf blower (still on the back of FF#1) and FF#2.

To avoid throwing the burning Dolmar toward the other nearby crewmembers, FF#2 moved to the left side of the leaf blower operator. FF#3, located downhill of this refueling operation, looked up to see: “a fireball and FF#2 on fire.” He hollered at FF#2 to: “Stop, Drop and Roll!” At this point, the Dolmar—now fully on fire—was dropped. Due to the steep terrain, it started to roll downhill toward FF#3. This rolling action caused ignited fuel to spew out onto FF #3—and catch him on fire, too. FF#3 immediately stopped and rolled. None of the three firefighters sustained any burn injuries. However, the leaf blower, the Dolmar, a handheld radio, and a hardhat were burned entirely.

Chainsaws, Fuel Geyser, Burn Injury, Close Call