Romero Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1971

The Romero Fire was initial attacked by resources from Santa Barbara County and the Los Padres National on the afternoon of October 6, 1971, near Santa Barbara, California. During extended attack of the fire, a group of dozers was working together to construct indirect line in the afternoon and evening of October 7. As "sundowner" downslope winds began around 1930, the dozers began to exit the work area, improving line as they went. Around 2100, the dozer operators discussed how best to leave the area as entrapment seemed imminent. As the fire overtook their location, one dozer operator abandoned his machine and took refuge on another dozer. The two operators on this first dozer survived with burn injuries. The four other individuals in the group were fatally burned. 

Those lost on the Romero Fire were: Richard Cumor, Delbert DeLoach, Thomas Klepperich and Leonard Mineau.

Entrapment, Fatality, Heavy Equipment, Indirect Line Construction, Burn Injury, Fire Behavior