Helicopter hoist extraction at night on the French Fire

A night time helicopter hoist operation was used to extract a firefighter who was injured during a night shift on the French Fire, about 36 miles northeast of Fresno, California. The Lessons Learned report does not give the date of the incident, but the fire started on July 28, 2014.

At approximately 12:53 a.m., a large snag within the burned area fell, hit adjacent trees, and caused a shrapnel effect of flying woody debris. A sawyer cutting brush ahead of the line construction effort for the Tahoe IHC was struck by an 8” diameter piece of this woody debris. As crewmembers rushed to the downed firefighters aid, he was found to be semi-conscious with a visible laceration to the head (caused by broken hardhat suspension).

The firefighter was stabilized and packaged by fellow hotshots, paramedics from a nearby Ventura County crew, and line medics. Within 1 hour and 10 minutes after the first report, the victim had been hoisted from the remote area by a helicopter and delivered to a hospital in Fresno.

The Dutch Creek protocols were used during the incident.

The Lessons Learned included:

  • Choose extraction site away from fireline or black edge.
  • When pilots use night vision goggles, all colors look the same — use glow sticks in a circular or spinning motion to call attention to the location.
  • Having qualified medical personnel and equipment close at hand facilitates prompt patient care.

The report did not provide the outcome of the victim’s injury other than being conscious and stable upon arrival at the hospital, but aside from that, the management of the incident sounds like a success story — good planning and execution of the plan.

More details are in the report: Night_Hoist_Extraction_final

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

2 thoughts on “Helicopter hoist extraction at night on the French Fire”

  1. I’d say a success story is no one getting hurt to save burning trees. I’d also say a success story has a happy ending, by definition. Is a broken neck happy?

    Why are hotshot crews putting in line, at night, in a place where trees are frequently 200 feet tall? I can’t help but to call that ridiculous. It’s a known hazard 24 hours of the day, and it’s potential increases at night. It’s common sense.

    One day I hope we, as the wildfire community, can realize we’re getting a lot of people hurt and killed to save burning trees. They grow back. Houses do too.

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  2. IT IS a success story

    Especially when you have a hoist capability nearby such as Kern County or any other with the capability

    To not have one in today’s fire world, either on contract or not, is simply irresponsible.

    Of course, it is costly. Nobody said it wasn’t. But when an operator spends nearly 100K on a hoist…….you can bet you just bought 4 hoists with today’s hospital care and stays…….that much you can bet on!!!!

    Good Work there everyone…..

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