Uno Peak Fire Boulder Near Miss 2017

Three ground support trucks and drivers arrived at Drop Point (DP) 20 to pick up a back haul of fire equipment. After loading this backhaul at DP 20, they noticed that they still had some room left in their trucks. So, the three trucks and members of a 20-person crew drove a short distance down Road 8200 to load an additional stack of hose. This hose was located where the fire line crossed the road. Approximately 180 feet above this area where the hose was located, an excavator was busy rehabbing a section of fire line, which created a large amount of dust. While this made it difficult for the operator to see the road below, he had a radio to talk to his chase truck driver. The chase truck driver asked the other drivers when they would be able to leave. After a few more minutes, the chase truck driver contacted the ground support drivers and crewmembers again, encouraging them to leave the area

The first ground support driver in line got back into his truck and moved it forward approximately 50 feet—just past where the fire line connected with the road. It was at this point that the excavator dislodged a large boulder that rolled down the hill, passing between the two trucks. Fortunately, it did not strike any people or equipment.

Heavy Equipment, Driving, RLS, Heavy Equipment