Rock Creek Prescribed Fire Burn Injury 2016

While traversing the inclined 45% slope that ran approximately 30-35 yards with rocks and a slippery, hardwood litter fuel bed intermixed with the rocks, one of the FFT2s caught his left foot between two rocks, twisting his left ankle and causing the firefighter to fall backward. The firefighter was holding the drip torch during this fall. Fuel ignited and dripped on the Nomex pants—burning the firefighter through the pants. Burning leaf litter was under the firefighter’s leg, causing burns to the back of the calf through the Nomex pants. Specifically, the burn injury occurred between the knee and the top of the boot in the calf area on the inside of the leg.

When the extent of the injury was realized, the injured firefighter radioed the Fire Team Leader. The injured firefighter didn’t announce a medical injury, but expressed the need to be picked up via the Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) on scene. The Fire Team Leader radioed the other FFT2, located closer to the injured firefighter, who was picked up at the original Drop Point by the UTV. The injured firefighter then relayed his injury status: a twisted ankle and burn on his leg. FFT2 immediately started filling out the “9 Line” form provided on the back of the Burn Area Map. During this time, the injured firefighter radioed the Burn Boss and relayed the extent of injuries and that FFT2 was going to provide transport to a staging area.

Dispatch, Fuel Geyser, Medical Emergency, Prescribed Fire, Burn Injury, RLS, Firing, Burn Injury