Spanish Ranch Entrapment Fatalities 1979

The Spanish Ranch Fire was reported the afternoon of August 15, 1979, and initial attacked on the ground by heavy equipment and engines from multiple agencies including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's (now CAL FIRE) San Luis Obispo Unit. The initial attack strategy was to direct attack with engines on either flanks, drop retardant line at the head of the fire, and build an indirect dozer line on a ridge in front of the head of the fire. An engine crew was assigned to the indirect dozer line to be in place in case a firing operation was needed. Fire found alignment in a topographic chimney and made a run towards the dozer, whose operator pushed an area of bare soil and deployed fire curtains in the dozer. The finger of fire was then pushed sidehill by strong winds, entrapping the engine crew on the indirect dozer line. Despite an attempt to fire around the entrapment area, three of the engine crew were overcome by the fire and perished. The fourth engine crewmember escaped on foot down the line, but was severely burned and succumbed to his injuries almost 7 months later.

The crew of CDF Engine 5373 lost on the Spanish Ranch Fire were: Scott Cox, Ron Lorant, Steve Manley, and Ed Marty.

Firing, Heavy Equipment, Entrapment, Burn Injury, Fatality, Engines