Mule Ridge Fire Chainsaw Fuel Geyser 2016

On June 4 at approximately 1445 hours, a firefighter on the Mule Ridge Fire sustained a burn injury to his right forearm. The injured crewmember, assigned as a sawyer on this fire, was engaged in holding operations along a forest road during burnout operations. The sawyer was attempting to start a Stihl MS 461 chainsaw. The day’s ambient fireline temperatures were in excess of 100 degrees--ideal temperatures for vapor lock on a chainsaw engine. Unable to start the saw, he attempted to vent the saw by opening the fuel filler cap to release pressure in the tank. As the tank filler cap was being opened, a jet of fuel was ejected from the saw, spraying fuel onto the sawyer’s right leg and arm. Standing on the burned edge of the fire while conducting this activity, the fuel was ignited by a nearby ignition source. Engine 534 crew members reacted quickly to the incident. They immediately utilized a hose line with water to suppress the fire on the individual.

RLS, Burn Injury, Fuel Geyser, Chainsaws, Burn Injury