South Canyon Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1994

The South Canyon Fire was ignited by lightning on July 2, 1994, and reported to the BLM on July 3. By July 6, firefighters from multiple modules were engaged on the fire, including smokejumpers, the Prineville Hotshots, helitack, and others. As firefighters were deployed around the fire perimeter, a dry cold front moved through the area, producing strong winds. Spot fires ignited below the main fire made rapid uphill runs, entrapping multiple groups of firefighters, some of whom deployed fire shelters while others attempted uphill escape or retreated into the adjacent unburned canyon. A group of twelve hotshots and smokejumpers on the west flank handline were overrun by fire and perished. Two helitack crewmembers were entrapped further upslope and perished. 

Those lost on the South Canyon Fire were: Kathi Beck, Tami Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Robert Browning, Doug Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso, Don Mackey, Roger Roth, James Thrash, and Richard Tyler.

Entrapment, Helicopters, Burn Injury, Fatality, Fire Behavior, Hand Crews, Extended Attack, Fire Shelter Deployment