Sand 2 Incident 2010

On July 18, 2010, while constructing direct fireline on the Sand 2 Fire, a member of a U.S. Forest Service Hotshot Crew was standing in hot ash operating a chainsaw cutting on a fallen log. The Firefighter began to feel heat through his boots and would occasionally back off to allow some cooling to take place, then step back into the ash to continue working. At the end of their shift, the crew began an approximate 3-mile hike out to their crew trucks. The Firefighter began to feel discomfort and pain in his feet and attributed this to blisters. Later that night at the facility where the crew was staying, the Superintendent determined the Firefighter was in no condition to continue to work due to what appeared to be blisters. Realizing his feet would require medical attention, arrangements were made for him to be transferred back to his home unit. At this point, there was no indication that the Firefighter had suffered any type of burn injury. It was not until a day later when the Firefighter returned home and visited a medical facility, that it was determined that he had received burns on his feet.

Burn Injury