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A tribute in song to the South Canyon firefighters

Bill GabbertApril 7, 2014April 7, 2014UncategorizedColorado, South Canyon Fire2 Comments

(Revised at 2:31 p.m. MT April 7, 2014 with information about a commemorative program 20 years after the South Canyon fatalities.)

Last August we told you about a song that was written to honor the 19 firefighters that perished on the Yarnell Hill Fire south of Prescott, Arizona. Now another songwriter has recorded a musical tribute to the 14 firefighters that were killed 20 years ago on the South Canyon Fire near Glenwood Springs, Colorado which occurred on Storm King Mountain. Naming the fire “South Canyon”, a geographic feature that was south of the fire area, was the first mistake that was made on the incident.

Jim Hawkins, a former firefighter for the city of Denver, wrote the song and performed it with Sophia Clark and other musicians. Their video is below.

If you have not seen it already, be sure and watch the excellent lessons learned video about the South Canyon Fire, titled Everyone Goes Home. It includes numerous interviews of wildland firefighters who were involved with, or were on scene during the entrapment and deaths of 14 firefighters.

Event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of South Canyon

There will be a formal commemoration to mark the 20th anniversary of the South Canyon fatalities. As of today, April 7, 2014, it is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 6 p.m July 6, 2014, at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Check the website that has been developed about the event for more details.

From FirefighterCloseCalls:

On Thursday, a North Carolina Firefighter was struck at the scene of a wildland fire. Due to smoke conditions, there was zero visibility as the Candor Firefighters (Montgomery County) arrived on the scene at 1414 hours – and were walking to the rear of the truck – when a passenger vehicle struck FF Earl Harrington.

Initially, as Firefighters went to the rear of the truck – to put out traffic cones and get set up to fight the fire, a passing Jeep hit the rig, pinning FF Harrington between the vehicles. A second vehicle, also traveling eastbound on the two-lane rural road, then hit the Jeep.

FF Harrington was flown out and taken to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. As a result of his injuries, his left leg had to be amputated. He is listed in stable condition with additional surgery anticipated.

The driver of the passenger vehicle was taken to Moore Regional Hospital for evaluation. We wish FF Harrington a very successful recovery.

Fire preparedness billboard

The Smokey Bear Twitter account sent out this photo yesterday:

Aerial firefighting training for National Guard pilots

From CAL FIRE:

CAL FIRE and the California National Guard are holding their annual fire aviation training at the CAL FIRE Academy in Ione and Lake Pardee in Amador County. CAL FIRE will be instructing National Guard helicopter pilots and crew members in basic incident management and firefighting operations so they can safely assist fire agencies in battling massive wildfires.