Crescent Mountain Fire Hiker Extraction 2018

A family of 7 (two adults and five children) plus three dogs hike into a mountain lake to camp. A fire starts in the area. They no longer have a way out.

A family of seven, plus three dogs, hiked into a mountain lake in the North Cascades in Washington to camp for a night in late July, 2018. On their hike out the next day, they could see a column of smoke about a half mile away. The fire was coming from the direction of their egress route, and moving towards them. Seeing that the fire was advancing, a family member used a SPOT GPS tracking device/locater to send an SOS. The family went back to the lake and used their sleeping pad air mattresses to swim and float their gear to a small island where they felt they might be safer from the fire. This was about a five minute swim and took several trips.

The local Sherriff’s Office was alerted by the SOS and organized a Search and Rescue, aided by three friends of the family.

Crescent Mountain Fire personnel became involved when the SAR coordinator met up with a Division Group Supervisor on their way to the trailhead. The Crescent Mtn Air Attack searched for the family unsuccessfully.  A Type 3 helicopter was launched with extra Nomex, gloves and flight helmets to search for the hikers. After spotting the family on the island, the helicopter landed in a basin about a mile from the lake. The Helicopter Manager hiked to the family who swam off the island to meet him. The party hiked 40 minutes to the helicopter where multiple flights were required to transport the five children, two parents and three dogs to the safety of a nearby green meadow.

Lessons

Consider multiple options while assessing exposure and risk. Know there is often criteria for deviating from policy. The US Forest Service allows for it when "There clearly exists an imminent threat to human life and insufficient time to utilize approved methods". -FSH 5109.16

To see the complete 2018 report on this incident:

Crescent Mountain Fire Civilian Hiker Extraction 2018 | Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center (wildfire.gov)