Waldron Creek Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1931

A crew was working in suppressing the Waldron Creek Fire on the Lewis and Clark National Forest near Choteau, Montana, when five crew members were entrapped and killed. The crew had been led into a 20-acre spot fire located one-quarter mile from the main fire when the fire began to crown and run in the crew's direction. Five of the crew members separated from the rest and headed in the direction of fire's spread. At the time of this entrapment, fireline supervision was away from the immediate area, attending to other tasks. All five men were later found deceased. 

Those lost on the Waldron Creek Fire: Charles Allen, Ted Bierchen, Hjalmer Gunnarson, Herbert Novotny, and Frank Williamson. 

Entrapment, Fatality, Hand Crews, Extended Attack