Oregon Gulch Fire Burn Injury 2014

A CAL FIRE engine crew was assigned to Division U on the Oregon Gulch fire burning in the Siskiyou Unit. The crew was assigned to mop up activity in their division. At approximately 0300 hours, the crew took a break on the fire line. The crew took their break on a piece of dozer line which was at the bottom of a slope that the crew had been working. A crew member went to the middle of the dozer line, removed their gloves and partially removed their web gear to sit down on the line. Within minutes of sitting down the firefighter was struck by a burning log about 2 feet long by 6 inches in diameter. The log had rolled down the slope to the dozer line. The burning log impacted the firefighter on the right side igniting components of the web gear. The firefighter suffered a serious burn to the hand while trying to pat out the flames of the web gear. The firefighter was treated on the line and transported to the local medical facility for evaluation. The firefighter was then transported to the UC Davis Burn Center.