Prospect Rock ATV FLA 2011

On October 31, 2011 on the Prospect Rock Prescribed Fire at about 1330 hours, while patrolling on one of the ATVs, the operator attempted to ride up a hill on a control line. Before reaching the top of the grade, the ATV began to tip over backwards after striking a rock with a front tire. The operator jumped off to the left, striking his shoulder on the ground, sustaining a broken collarbone. The ATV flipped over backwards completely, landing upright on its wheels. The operator radioed his crew members for assistance. They brought their engine to the closest road to the injury site while the Lead Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) hiked downslope to where the operator was lying on the ground. The EMT did an initial assessment, made a sling for the rider’s arm, and with help from another crew member, assisted the rider (who was ambulatory) about 267 feet up the slope to the road where the engine was waiting. The crew members then shuttled the patient in two different smaller patrol and utility vehicles away from the burn site to the ranger station and then to the hospital where he was treated for a broken collarbone and released the same evening.

Driving, Prescribed Fire, All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Incident