Skyline Road Engine Accident 2014

On July 13, 2014 the Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) 1 experienced a severe lighting storm that generated between 450-500 lightning strikes. A majority of this storm was along the eastern side of the Cascade Mountain range. This system generated very little moisture, which resulted in multiple fire starts within the jurisdiction of CTWS and surrounding areas. At approximately 1250 hours, CWTS dispatch received a call from Colombia Dispatch (Forest Service) regarding a smoke report (fire #73) along the Skyline (42) road. Engine 38 is assigned to fire # 73, which is located in the northwest part of the reservation. FF1 is driving the engine and FF2 is the passenger. As Engine 38 approaches fire # 73, FF1 observes smoke several hundred feet off the right side of the road, as the engine passes a dirt road that leads towards the fire. A split second later FF1 turns to FF2 and asks, “was that our road”. At that time FF2 is looking at the map and responds back and says “I think so”. Engine 38 drifts off the road, and FF1 tries to steer the engine back on to the road, however the weight of the vehicle and the extremely poor condition of the road prevent a recovery. The engine travels about 100 feet then jumps back on to the road. As soon as the vehicle gets back on the road FF1 over-corrects the steering which causes Engine 38 to roll once and land upright on the Westside of the Skyline 42 road. The crash resulted in injuries to FF1 (broken collar bone) and injuries to FF2 (neck and spinal injuries). FF2 is transported by Life Flight medical personnel to Oregon Health Science University, in Portland, Oregon for medical treatment. FF1 is treated on site and released.