BLM firefighters lead private citizens to safety

Two Bureau of Land Management firefighters led some private citizens to safety when their “exit access” was cut off by the Wetmore Fire, west of Pueblo, Colorado October 23, 2012.

(UPDATE March 6, 2013: the Lessons Learned Review has been released.)

Here is the preliminary (24 hour) report:

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PRELIMINARY (24 HOUR) REPORT

  • From: Keith Berger, BLM, Royal Gorge Field Office, Field Manager
  • To: BLM Colorado State Director
  • THE FOLLOWING INFORAMTION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
  • Location: Wetmore Fire, Royal Gorge Field Office
  • Date of Occurrence: Approximately 14:00 on 10/23/2012
  • FMO Robert Hurley, Front Range Interagency Fire Management Unit
  • Activity: Wildland Fire Suppression
  • Number and Type of Injury: None

NARRATIVE:

On October 23, 2012 at approximately 1400 PM MDT, two Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employees led a group of private citizens to safety when their exit access was cut off due to fire and smoke. The BLM employees, from the Royal Gorge Field Office Front Range Interagency Fire Management Unit located in Canon City, Colorado, were responding to the Wetmore Fire when they saw that some private citizens were unable to exit to the main highway. They guided the citizens to an area with light fuels, allowing the fire to pass by without any injuries, and were then able to lead the citizens to the highway, where they were all able to leave the fire area.

The human caused fire was reported at approximately 1300 PM MDT near the town on Wetmore, Colorado. Weather conditions during the initial attack on Tuesday afternoon were clear skies, temps 75+ degrees with southwest winds 40-45 mph with gusts to 70 mph. Fuels in the area are Ponderosa Pine, Pinion-Juniper and oak brush and grasses.

A Lessons Learned Review Team, consisting of the Colorado State Office Safety & Occupational Health Specialist, a Zone FMO from the Arapahoe-Roosevelt NF, a Forestry Tech from the Black Hills NF and a Zone FMO from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control will be conducting the investigation.

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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.