1. 2010 REVIEW WILDLAND FIRE SEASON IN EASTERN WASHINGTON
PART 1
Serious Burnover on the Cowiche Mill Rd. Fire

2. NWCG Definitions
Burnover – A situation where personnel or equipment is caught in an advancing flame front.
Entrapment – A situation where personnel are unexpectedly caught in a fire behavior-related, life-threatening position where planned escape routes or safety zones are absent, inadequate, or compromised. An entrapment may or may not include deployment of a fire shelter for its intended purpose. These situations may or may not result in injury. They include "near misses.“
Near-miss – An unplanned event or series of events that could have resulted in death, injury, occupational illness, or damage to or loss of equipment or property but did not.
Fire Shelter Deployment – The removing of a fire shelter from its case and using it as protection against fire.

3. NWCG Definitions
Non-Serious Wildland Accident – An unplanned event or series of events that resulted in injury, occupational illness, or damage to equipment or property to a lesser degree defined in a “Serious Wildland Fire Accident.”
Serious Wildland Accident – An unplanned event or series of events that resulted in death, injury, occupational illness, or damage to or loss of equipment or property. For wildland fire operations, a serious accident involves any of the following:
One or more fatalities
Three or more personnel who are inpatient hospitalized as a direct result of or in support of wildland fire operations.
Property or equipment damage of $250,000 or more.
Consequences that the Designated Agency Safety and Health Official judges to warrant Serious Accident Investigation.

4. Agency/Entity of Personnel Involved
2010 YEAR IN REVIEW
Date
Incident Name
Jurisdiction
Location
Activity
Agency/Entity of Personnel Involved
Type of Accident
Number of People
4/7
Bradley Ranch
Jackson County, NC
Initial Attack
County VFD
Burnover
1 Engine and 1 crew transport 3
minor injuries
7/19
Cowiche Mill Fire
Yakima County
West Valley, WA
Structure Protection
Type 1 Engine was destroyed
treated for minor injuries
7/28
Indian River
Florida Division of Forestry
Okeechobee Dist.
State Forestry
Career
2 dozer/plow units became stuck
No injuries
1 shelter
deployment
Wheat Stubble Fire
Spink County
Doland SD
Type 1 Engine caught fire
1 FF with
1st and 2nd degree burns

5. Agency/Entity of Personnel Involved
2010 YEAR IN REVIEW
Date
Incident Name
Jurisdiction
Location
Activity
Agency/Entity of Personnel Involved
Type of Accident
Number of People
8/14
Davin Place Fire
Franklin County
Kahlotus, WA
Initial Attack
Fed/USFWS (5)
County VFD (2)
Entrapment
2 Engines and
1 Pickup 3
1 FF with
2nd degree burns
10/7
Woods Community Fire
Newton County, TX
Line Construction
State Forestry
Burnover
dozer/plow unit became stuck 1
FF with
Source: NWCG Rick Management Committee SAFETY GRAM
Fatalities, Entrapments and Serious Accident Summary for 2010

6. WEST VALLEY ENGINE 31 Serious Wildland Accident Engine Burnover
Photo Courtesy of West Valley Fire
Yakima County Fire District #12
1994 Central State Pumper with Spartan Gladiator Cab

7. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
Sunday July 18, at 18:52 (PST) a wildland fire started off Cowiche Mill Rd., Cowiche, WA. The wind carried the fire upslope and it crested the ridge into West Valley. Apparatus from first, second and third alarm as well as State mobilization air support, task forces and strike teams were dispatched.

8. Cowiche N
Cowiche Mill Rd.
Summitview Rd.
West Valley

9. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
Three West Valley Firefighters from Station 3 were on WV Engine 31 performing structure protection on the north end of Carvo Rd.
They were given the assignment to join WV Tender 45 to protect the structure at 433 Carvo Rd.
The structure was on the end of a dead end, single lane private road surrounded by heavy brush.

10. 433 Carvo Rd. N

11. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
While making a sharp turn south into the driveway of the residence, WV Engine 31 met WV Tender 45 facing out and chose to turn around and not proceed into the residence.
Conditions near the structure begin to deteriorate as the advancing fire rapidly moved from the northwest towards the structure in very heavy brush.

12. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
WV Engine 31 and WV Tender 45 were instructed by the Strike Team Leader to evacuate the area due to the amount of fire and fuels present
WV Engine 31, with a backer, made a five-point turn at the entrance of the residence and drove back down the road with WV Tender 45 to follow.

13. N LEGEND 433 Carvo Rd. Advancing Flame Front Path Engine Traveled
WV EN 31
WV WT 45

14. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
Engine 31 was met with heavy fire conditions on both sides of the road. Heat and flames impinged on the engine and smoke reduced the visibility to zero.
Engine 31 drifted to the left onto the soft shoulder and travelled 62’, corrected and crossed the roadway, drove over a berm, through a barbed-wire fence coming to a stop 12’ off on it wheels in high, dense stand of burning sage brush.

15. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
Engine 31 caught fire, all three crew members exited out the drivers door, crossed the barbed-wire fence, ran down a two-track road and safely took refuge in a field of mowed down grass until being picked up by a command vehicle.

16. N LEGEND Accident Site Area Of Safe Refuge 433 Carvo Rd.
Advancing Flame Front
Path Engine Traveled
Crew Escape Route
LEGEND N
WV EN 31
WV WT 45

17. West Valley Engine 31 BURNOVER
Engine 31 was total loss ($345,000 vehicle and contents) and Tender 45 sustained only minor damage making it safely down the road using its front-mount sweeps to knock down the fire.
All three crew members from Engine 31 were treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation plus:
1 strained knee
1 with 2nd degree burns to the ears.

18. West Valley Tender 45 Photo Courtesy of West Valley Fire
Yakima County Fire District #12

19. Remains of West Valley Engine 31
Photo Courtesy of Mike Harris, SOF3
Southeast Washington IMT

20. Road heading northwest away from residence
NOTE: THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN ON JULY DAY AFTER THE ENGINE 31 BURNOVER.
Entrance to 433 Carvo Rd.
Red pickup is near location and facing the same direction as Tender 45
Entrance to driveway
Lieutenant is where Engine 31 backed up and began a 5-point turn
Road heading northwest away from residence
Final stopping location for Engine 31
Orange flags indicate tire tracks of left wheels

21. Indication of how high the brush is were
Engine 31 was burned over.
5’ 6”
Photo Courtesy of Mike Harris, SOF3
Southeast Washington IMT

22. FINDINGS
Finding 1
Maintenance records of Engine 31 met agency standards and no mechanical deficiencies contributed to the incident.
Finding 2
Driver of Engine 31 is a 2 year member of West Valley Fire and has successfully completed all required NWCG training for Firefighter 2 and EVIP and agency corresponding road driver checklist, and apparatus driver checklist.
Officer of Engine 31 is a 10 year member of West Valley Fire and has successfully completed all required NWCG training for Firefighter 2.

23. CAUSES
Cause 1
Engine 31 and Tender 45 were assigned to protect a structure that had not been properly sized-up. The following NWCG standards for Firefighter Safety were not adhered to:
18 Watchout Situations
Lookout, Communications, Escape Routes and Safety Zones
10 Standard Fire Orders

24. CAUSES (Cont.) Cause 2 Cause 3
The burning of heavy fuel on both sides of the road created a smoke condition that reduced visibility to zero, resulting in Engine 31 running off the road.
Cause 3
Narrow single-lane road with embankments on each side left little to no room for turning around or maneuverability.

25. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS Contributing Factor 1 Judgment and Risk Decision
Driver and Officer of Engine 31, under the direction of the Strike Team Leader accepted and performed unnecessary risk/hazard by operating the vehicle through very extreme fire conditions to get the crew and engine to safety where the only alternative communicated (by the Strike Team Leader) was to evacuate.

26. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR (cont.)
Supervisory and Organizational
Direct supervisors and engine officers need to properly size-up each situation, communicate risks and implement measures to eliminate or reduce risks.
The following NWCG firefighter safety standards were not adhered to:

27. Standard Fire Orders
Fight fire aggressively but provide for safety first.
Ensure instructions are given and understood.
Obtain current information on fire status.

28. 18 Watchout Situations Safety zones and escape routes not identified.
Instructions and assignments not clear.
Unburned fuel between you and the fire.
Weather is getting hotter and dryer.
Wind increases and/or changes direction.
Terrain and fuels make escape to safety zones difficult.

29. Implement LCES and Know the Inter-Connect Between all Four!
Lookouts
Communication
Escape Routes
Safety Zones

30. Urban Interface Watchouts
Hot, dry windy conditions.
Unburned fuel between you and fire.
Fire below your work area or escape route or safety zones.
No identified safety zones in work area.
Narrow, steep, long roads and driveways.
No attempt by personnel to improve fireline or defensible space.

31. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR (cont.)
External Force
The wind created a rapidly advancing fire from the northwest and added to the urgency for crews to make a decision to protect the structure and remain in a viable safe area or evacuate.
The narrow, dead end one-way road made for hazardous driving in zero visibility conditions.
The heavy growth of sage brush on each side of the roadway contributed to the amount of heat and smoke creating hazardous driving conditions.

32. LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT AND DRAW-D
DRAW-D presupposes every action on or in response to an incident and represents a level of engagement. Safe and effective firefighting requires a bias for action, realizing every tactical maneuver is predicated on a thoughtful and mindful decision making.
In this model; accurate situational awareness, rapid and pinpoint risk identification and mitigation, and effective decision making are essential.

33. USE DRAW-D FOR LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT
Plan on two actions for success when you engage; advance or defend.
If that cannot be done safely, your options are reinforcement , or disengage by withdrawing or delaying your actions.

34. USE DRAW-D FOR LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT
Defend - hold and improve line.
Reinforce – add resources necessary to advance or defend.
Advance – Direct or indirect attack or active burnout operations.
Withdraw - Abandon constructed line or established position in a response to fire behavior or other influences adversely effecting the ability to advance or defend. This may or may not include travel along safety routes to safety zones.
Delay – Wait for conditions to meet pre-identified triggers necessary to advance or defend.

35. ACKKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Cowiche Mill Road Fire Serious Burnover Investigation Team
Mike Harris, SOF3
Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team
Don Taylor, SOF3 Trainee