Myakka River Burnover 2009

A prescribed burn was started in Myakka River State Park at 1120 hours on June 2, 2009, in Zone 9B. This zone was being burned using ground ignition by three crews consisting of 14 staff. Sometime between 1400 and 1430 hours, a change was made to the ignition plan by two of the Crew Bosses. At this time, more problems with communications on this large zone continued and were getting worse. Crews tried to use radios and cell phones to communicate but had issues with both. Due to these communication troubles, this change caused a portion of the zone to be ignited before it should have been. This error was not passed on to the Burn Boss in a timely manner. As adjustments were made by the Burn Boss, another communication error--this time verbal and not via radio or cell--caused the ignition of a section of line that cut off the path and eventually the escape route of one crew.

Prescribed Fire, Entrapment