More information released about the three firefighter fatalities near Twisp, Washington

twisp river fire fatalities
The general area of the fatalities, August 19 on the Twisp River Fire in Washington. The deceased firefighters were found 40 feet off Woods Canyon Road. The 3-D map is looking north. (click to enlarge)

On Sunday afternoon the U.S. Forest Service released additional information about the fatalities of the three wildland firefighters that occurred in the Twisp River Fire August 19 near Twisp, Washington.

The fire was reported at 12:30 p.m. PT, August 19, 2015. Between 2:45 and 3 p.m. the wind direction changed and the fire activity increased. At about 3 p.m. firefighters were entrapped by the fire, and around 4 p.m. fatalities and injuries were reported and one injured firefighter was airlifted to a hospital.

Engine 642, from the Okanogan/Wenatchee National Forest, was found upright 40 feet below Woods Canyon Road. It had been burned over and three deceased firefighters were inside. Two deployed fire shelters were in the general area, but at a press conference, the leader of the USFS investigation team, John Phipps, who currently serves as Station Director of the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, Colorado, said he did not know where they were found in relation to the firefighters.

The deceased have been identified as Tom Zbyszewki, 20, Andrew Zajac, 26 and Richard Wheeler, 31. One firefighter, Daniel Lyon, 25, of Puyallup, Washington, is in critical condition with third degree burns over over 60 to 65 percent of his body. Three other injured firefighters were treated at a hospital and released.

The investigation team is using the Coordinated Response Protocol which was developed in 2014. Part of that process is a Learning Review which, according to a four-page document released by the USFS last year, “is designed to produce at least two learning products, one for the field and one for organizational leadership”. When asked about the process during the news conference, Mr. Phipps appeared to be unfamiliar with the “learning products”, and said he did not know if they would both be released to the public.

At least six investigations are going on concurrently:

  1. Coordinated Response Protocol/Learning Review;
  2. Office of Inspector General ( as required by the Cantwell-Hastings legislation, Public Law Public Law 107-203);
  3. OSHA;
  4. Washington DNR investigation into injuries to two of their employees;
  5. Forest Service law enforcement;
  6. County Sheriff.

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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.

3 thoughts on “More information released about the three firefighter fatalities near Twisp, Washington”

  1. My thoughts and prayers are for the family suffering from the loss of these heroic fire fighters and to the fire fighter that is in the hospital fighting for his life and healing.
    Sherry Kem,
    Deer Island, Oregon

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  2. Reading this story breaks my heart. My condolences to all. And prayers to Daniel and his family for the long road ahead.

    From a member of the Fresno Fire Department family

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