Above: photo from the CAL FIRE report.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has released a “Green Sheet” preliminary report on an incident within an incident that occurred on the Pleasant Fire north of Nevada City, California August 30, 2017.
About half an hour after beginning work constructing fireline downhill, increasing fire activity forced a contractor-owned dozer to disengage. The operator walked the machine through unburned vegetation to a small cleared area near a greenhouse but after arriving, a burst hydraulic line leaked fluid which ignited, producing smoke and flames in the cab. He attempted to extinguish this new fire with an extinguisher, but failed, then exited the dozer and deployed a fire shelter as the main fire approached.
For about an hour no one on the fire knew where the dozer and operator were, in spite of numerous attempts on the radio to contact him and aerial searches by Air Attack and a helicopter. After an hour the operator used his hand-held radio to announce that the dozer sustained a hydraulic failure and he deployed a shelter, but he was unable to describe his location. Eight minutes later a helicopter spotted him and led ground personnel to the scene.
The operator complained of coughing, dizziness, and weakness. After being assessed by medical personnel, he walked downhill to an ALS ambulance for transport to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
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If only there were some way to track people and equipment in real time. Hint: there is, why such systems are not in use is a mystery.
we have trackers on equipment (tractor/plows & Engines), here in Florida, works so-so, IF we have a supervisor on scene with his laptop and tracking system working, but it doesnt allow us rangers in the tractors to see where others are, nor where we are in relation to fire or terrain features, roads, etc. Not perfect but works.
Glad he made it! Happy the marijuana grow didn’t! ?
heard the radio traffic on this incident,but was never quite sure what i was hearing.i guess what i had heard was during the search,not the initial call for him.glad to hear he is safe now though.