Sugar Loaf Fire Heavy Equipment Accident Fatality 1954

Foster Vernon, a longtime heavy equipment operator for the California Department of Forestry (now CAL FIRE), was killed when his dozer rolled over. Another state dozer had reportedly experienced some kind of mechanical failure of the dozer's track while constructing fireline on the Sugar Loaf Fire the previous day. In an effort to tow the machine uphill to where it could be repaired, Vernon's dozer rolled over. Consequently, both dozers rolled over multiple times. 

Heavy Equipment, Fatality