Panther Fire Entrapment Fatality 2008

The Panther Fire was located and identified on July 23, 2008 on the Klamath National Forest, California. The incident quickly increased in complexity to the point where a Type 1 IMT sent two division/group supervisors on July 26 to scout the fire and determine a plan. While conducting a reconnaissance of the fireline, the Panther Fire made a major run and rapidly overtook the ridgeline where the two DIVS were located. They attempted to escape but found their escape routes cut off. At that time, DIVS Dan Packer elected to deploy his fire shelter. The other DIVS chose to evade the advancing fire by escaping downhill through heavy unburned fuels. Although Packer had fully deployed his new generation fire shelter, the intense heat of the fire and its residence time exceeded the capability of the fire shelter. 

Transition, Extended Attack, Fatality, Entrapment