(UPDATED at 11:02 a.m. PDT May 1, 2019)
Stanton Florea, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, confirmed that a total of 10 crewmembers on the Redding Interagency Hotshots were injured in the crash of their crew carrier yesterday, April 30. At least one was transported from the scene by helicopter. Two crewmembers are still in the hospital.
The crew was engaged in chain saw training away from their base in Redding, and was en route back when the accident occurred.
(UPDATED at 7:27 a.m. PDT May 1, 2019)
We will update this article as more of the details become available.
CHP investigating a crash near Burney off 299E between a Lexus sedan & Redding Hotshot crew vehicle. None fatal/no arrest. More details on @KRCR7 pic.twitter.com/QvODW7kyYZ
— KRCR PHOTOG (@krcrphoto) May 1, 2019
The Redding Hotshots differ from the typical Hotshot Crew in that firefighters are detailed to the crew from other units. It is a Regional resource rather than being tied to a specific National Forest or Park like other Type 1 crews. In addition they receive a concentrated fire management training opportunity through supervising a squad of 3-7 crewmembers during fire suppression, prescribed fire and other emergency incidents.
(Originally published at 8:05 p.m. PDT April 30, 2019)
The Shasta County News Source is reporting that a vehicle carrying members of the U.S. Forest Service Redding Hotshots was involved in a two-vehicle accident in Burney, California, which is about 56 miles northeast of the crew’s base in Redding.
The report has numerous details which may have been gathered from monitored radio conversations.
The Incident Commander reported the crew carrier was off the road and on its side, and immediately declared it to be a Mass Casualty incident.
Two or possibly three of the injured were flown to hospitals, and approximately eight or nine others with minor injuries were transported in ground vehicles. It is believed that a person in the other vehicle, a Lexus, is included in the numbers.
The accident was reported at about 5:12 p.m. Tuesday April 30.
The details may change as the story evolves. We will update this article as more details emerge.
(Click here for an update on the accident.)
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom. Typos or errors, report them HERE.