Skip to main content

Waldron Creek Fire Entrapment Fatalities 1931

  • Location:

    Montana
  • Date:

    08/25/1931
  • Incident Type:

    Entrapment
  • Description:

    A crew was working in suppressing the Waldron Creek Fire, Lewis and Clark National Forest, near Choteau, Montana, when five of their number were entrapped and killed. The crew had been led into a 20-acre spot fire a quarter mile from the main fire when the fire began to crown and run in the crew's direction. Five of the crew separated from the rest and headed in the direction of fire spread. At the time of the 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 were: Charles Allen, Ted Bierchen, Hjalmer Gunnarson, Herbert Novotny, and Frank Williamson. 

    Entrapment, Fatality, Hand Crews, Extended Attack