Route Fire Entrapment 2021

On September 11, 2021, firefighters from Los Angeles County (LAC) and the U.S. Forest Service (Angeles National Forest - ANF) were dispatched to a fire on ANF land near Castaic, California. Just after initial attack resources arrived on the scene, the fire spotted across Highway 99 and quickly established on the slope. Crews initially used a direct attack strategy to flank the fire, but after these spots established, the flank quickly became the head. In the resulting confusion, the fire behavior forced a LAC hand crew into two FS engines during escape efforts. Two firefighters sustained serious burn injuries. These events happened within the first half-hour of initial attack.

Entrapment, Initial Attack, Engines, Hand Crews, Burn Injury, Fire Behavior, RLS