Southcentral Alaska Ash Pit Burn Injuries 2019

A two-person saw team from an IHC crew was performing hazard tree mitigation on this fire when the swamper stepped into an 18-inch-deep ash pit while trying to move a bucked log. The swamper immediately recognized this was hot ash and was attempting to get out when the sawyer noticed the swamper’s distress and extended a hand to assist, unfortunately stepping into the ash pit as well. Both firefighters were initially diagnosed with second degree burns on their lower legs above the boot line, covering approximately three percent of their bodies.

Medevac, Mop Up, Medical Emergency, Burn Injury