Milepost 97 Fire Object Strikes Crewmember 2019

Shortly after midnight on July 29th , the IHC was facilitating a burnout operation on the west side of Interstate 5. The IHC made their way down a steep slope (35-40 degrees) by mid-sloping, using a cross slope grid. As the IHC was making their way down slope, an object that was neither identified nor heard – began rolling. The object ultimately struck one of the crew members in the head, behind the left ear and below the hard hat. This impact resulted in a fall and loss of consciousness. As soon as the IHC confirmed that a person had in fact been struck and seriously injured, the IHC superintendent initiated an incident within an incident (IWI) and assumed the role of IWI Incident Commander.

Due to the increased risk of injury associated with operations in steep terrain, a rapid extraction module (REM) and medics (with ambulance) were prepositioned in close proximity to the division. Once on scene, medical resources completed a patient assessment and had the IWI-IC request transportation by air through the IMT’s Communication Unit. The injured crewmember was then loaded onto a stokes litter and extracted down the steep slope by method of "human conveyor belt," both 30 feet down and up to the awaiting ambulance. Once loaded, the ambulance departed for the helispot and prepared to transfer care to the inbound air ambulance. Upon arrival, the air ambulance received the patient, prepared for transport and departed the site for the medical center.

Hand Crews, Medical Emergency, RLS, Medevac, Hit by Rock