CAL FIRE engine rolls over — three firefighters injured

CAL FIRE engine rollover
The CAL FIRE engine that rolled over August 13, 2015 near Browns Valley, CA. Photos credit: CAL FIRE.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has released a “Green Sheet”, a preliminary report on the rollover of one of their fire engines that occurred August 13, 2015 near Browns Valley, California about 50 miles north of Sacramento (map).

The accident involved two pieces of firefighting apparatus from CAL FIRE, but only the engine was damaged. Three firefighters received minor injuries.

The engine and a dozer transport truck were dispatched to the same fire. The dozer transport stopped on Marysville Road before turning left onto Bayberry Lane. With its turn signal on, it began to turn left but stopped again as the driver saw the engine approaching and attempting to pass. The driver of the engine swerved to avoid a collision and went off the shoulder of the road at approximately 45 to 50 mph. The engine then slid along the gravel shoulder for about 100 feet before rolling over and coming to rest 197 feet from where it left the pavement.

CAL FIRE engine rolloverOn September 5, 2015 near Napa another CAL FIRE engine rolled over, injuring two firefighters.

Related articles on Wildfire Today:

Our commentary about the frequency of fire engine rollovers.
Articles tagged Rollover.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Kirk.

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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.

8 thoughts on “CAL FIRE engine rolls over — three firefighters injured”

  1. to follow up on this,my friend Andy Adams HFEO 2340 out of the Nevada City station,told me it was the “Butte Dozer”..im not sure if he meant a dozer out of the Butte ranger unit,or if its a contract hire dozer,i hear it dispatched quite often here in NYP (NEU?) during summer,which leads me to think its a summer hire dozer,didnt get a chance to ask about that as Andy was busy at the time.lol.

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  2. I don’t think rescalle meant it
    (Inconsequential ) in the term folks think….

    When you are hauling water and folks to a fire and when rollovers seem to be the “sport” the last couple of years……

    Too many folks in a hurry going “lights and Sireeeens ” to a fire….surely has more of these reports in the offing.

    Maybe even to a degree that heavy engine training needs an overhaul

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  3. I started my career as seasonal in 1973 on an engine. Our FCO had a big sign on his desk “Wildfire is no emergency”. I believed it then and still do today. I know it’s out of sync with today’s thinking…but I saw quite a few banged up and totaled engines in 38 years. People were killed in some. Most involved excessive speed in the rush to an inconsequential wildland fire.

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    1. Really!!
      Are today’s wildland fires inconsequential? Are today’s wildland fires non emergencys?
      Really !!!
      Tell that to residents of Colorado and the westcoast states and see what reaction you get. As a retired structural and wildand fire fighter it is true if you don’t arrive safely at the call you are worthless to the cause whether there are people trapped or not ( which, by the way, can happen on a wildland incident). Yes, in years past most vegetation fires were minor affairs ( for years BLM did not have red lights on their equipment; CALFIRE did not have red lights on Crew Carriers). Times have changed. Especially with 4 or more years of drought affecting spread rates in the interfaces.

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  4. Is it worth your life to drive “faster than safe” to attend a brush fire???

    Does 2 or 3 minutes really matter?

    Not like a structural department, where people could be trapped…

    It’s a wildfire, drive smart, arrive safe, extinguish fire….

    Not rocket science….

    Hope those involved recover fully and spread the gospel of arrive safe, in order to do our jobs…,

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    1. Rocksteady where does it say that the engine driver was speeding or racing or being reckless?
      I do not think it advances the discussion to be critical if we do not know exactly why the accident occurred. For all we know, the engine was passing a disabled vehicle that was going 15 mph in a 55 mph with its flashers on.
      Let’s wait to pass judgment and scold or admonish until we know all the facts.….
      Just my opinion………

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      1. I am not saying this was the case here. I am saying it is something I have observed over the years with all employees.

        Just a “sit back and reflect” moment

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  5. i had sent you an email about this when it happened,i was listening to the scanner at the time of dispatch and was following the call,ill have to ask him to be sure,but i believe the drive of the dozer transport was a good friend of mine,he operates 2340 out of nevada city,they have a dozer there and at bowman (upper auburn hieghts,auburn city) station 10.the guy im sure it was raced against me back in the 80s at Grass Valley. bitter rivals…lol…

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