Engine crew injured in burnover in Montana

Firefighters were taken to a burn center in Utah

Devils Creek Fire. BLM photo.
Devils Creek Fire. BLM photo.

Five firefighters were injured July 22 when their fire engine was burned over while they were working on a wildfire in northeast Montana. They were constructing fireline on the Devils Creek Fire in Garfield County when a passing thunderstorm created erratic winds that blew the fire over their position.

At least three of the firefighters were taken to a burn center in Salt Lake City.

The lightning-caused fire is burning in rough, steep terrain near the Pine Grove School, about 36 miles northwest of Jordan, east of the Devils Creek Road which accesses the south shore of Fort Peck Reservoir.

Personnel on site continue to fight the blaze, which has burned about 375 acres of BLM and private land.

Devils Creek Fire, Garfield County, MT
Devils Creek Fire, Garfield County, MT. Wildfire Today/Google.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Al, Dick, and Tom.

Firefighter suffers serious burns while fighting fire in Montana

He was on an engine crew when the wind shifted

Dan Steffensen
Dan Steffensen. Photo courtesy of Red Lodge Fire Rescue.

Red Lodge Fire Rescue has released information about a firefighter who suffered serious burns while battling the Harris Fire near Joliet, Montana 25 miles northeast of Red Lodge, MT on July 16. Dan Steffensen was on a two-person engine crew when strong winds suddenly shifted in his direction. He attempted to reach safety, but was overrun by the fast moving fire and injured. Due to the severity of his burns, Mr. Steffensen was admitted to the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City in serious condition. His family and firefighting colleagues are traveling to be with him.

The other person on the engine was Scott Wilson, who was not injured. He acted quickly to make the notifications and assist in getting emergency medical care for his partner.

From Red Lodge Fire Rescue:

Dan has been a firefighter with Red Lodge Fire since 2015. In 2017 Dan was selected as volunteer “Firefighter of the Year” and works on the fuel mitigation/Initial Attack crew where in the summers he works to reduce hazardous fuels around homes and responds to emerging wildland fires. He is a nationally qualified wildland firefighter and has fought fires in Montana, Oregon, California and other western states as an engine boss and water tender operator.

Those wanting to help support Mr. Steffensen and his family can donate via the GoFundMe page which has been set up for his benefit.

Dan Steffensen
L to R, Dan Steffensen and Scott Wilson. Photo courtesy of Red Lodge Fire Rescue.

If you’re thinking the town of Red Lodge, Montana sounds familiar, the Robertson Draw Fire just south of the community burned over 27,000 acres in June.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.

Forest Service smokejumper injured on a wildfire in New Mexico

Was parachuting into a fire 9 miles north of the Mexico border

Updated 9 a.m. MDT May 29, 2021

Tim Hart

A Gofundme account has been set up for Tim Hart who was critically injured while parachuting into the Eicks Fire in southeastern New Mexico. He works out of the jumper base at West Yellowstone, Montana.

Below is the text from Gofundme, May 29, 2021:


On May 24th, West Yellowstone Smokejumper Tim Hart suffered multiple injuries after a hard landing during a fire jump in southern New Mexico. Tim was flown via air ambulance to a hospital in El Paso, Texas where he remains in critical condition.

Tim has been a wildland firefighter since 2006.  He began his career working on an engine  for the Coconino National Forest, and continued in that capacity on the  Fremont-Winema NF and the Shoshone NF.  After his engine time, he became a Lead Firefighter and Squadleader on the Asheville Interagency hotshot crew.  He later held squadleader positions on  Augusta IHC  and  Ruby Mountain IHC.  Tim accepted a rookie smokejumper position in  2016 at Grangeville, Idaho.  He moved to the West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base as a squadleader in 2019. Tim’s talents and natural leadership have been a big part in the success of all the functional areas here in West.  He is willing to take things on very thoughtfully and methodically, and with a sense of humor.

Whatever the task is in front of him- whether it’s preparing for fire jumps or cargo drops, building furniture for his new home in Cody, WY or improvising a musical jam session with his wife Michelle, he rises to the challenge!  His “get- it- done” attitude will serve him well on his journey to recovery.

Thank you for supporting Tim and his family during this incredibly difficult time. They have a long road ahead of them, and any burden we may be able to lift would be greatly appreciated.

Keep Tim in your thoughts and prayers…. and keep the whiskey nearby to celebrate all of Tim’s victories down the road.


6:37 p.m. MDT, May 26, 2021

3D Map of Eicks Fire
3D map showing the approximate location of the Eicks Fire, May 25, 2021. Looking North.

This article was first published at FireAviation.com

6:34 p.m. MDT May 26, 2021

A U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper was seriously injured Monday after a hard landing at a wildfire in New Mexico. Tim Hart of Cody, Wyoming was dispatched to help suppress the Eicks Fire in the Animas Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, nine miles north of the Mexico border. He works out of the jumper base at West Yellowstone, Montana.

Mr. Hart was flown by air ambulance to a hospital in El Paso and was in critical condition. “The Forest Service’s first priority is to provide for him and his family right now,” said Marna Daley, Forest Service spokeswoman. “We are working with the smokejumper and firefighter community to make sure those needs are being met.”

Map of Eicks Fire
Map showing the location of the Eicks Fire.

The Eicks Fire has burned 850 acres of grass and brush since it was reported May 24, 2021 in very rugged terrain along the Continental Divide. No structures have burned and none are threatened.

Some media outlets initially reported that the injured person was a Hotshot firefighter, but in a Congressional hearing on Tuesday Chief of the Forest Service Vicki Christiansen said it was a smokejumper.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.

Firefighter injured in rollover in North Dakota

Elevated and critical fire weather predicted for large areas of the central U.S. on Thursday

fire in North Dakota near McVille
A fire in North Dakota March 31, 2021 near McVille. Photo by Megan Overby.

A North Dakota firefighter working on a grass fire was injured in a vehicle rollover Monday.

From the Bismark Tribune:

…Visibility in the area was near zero at times Monday and caused one firefighting truck to roll off the side of the road, Richardton Fire Chief Jason Kostelecky said.

One of the firefighters inside sought medical help for injuries suffered in the crash, but his scans did not indicate serious problems, said the chief of the all-volunteer fire department. The vehicle, a pickup with a pumping unit, was damaged but some components might be salvaged.

Like in Wyoming and South Dakota Monday where very strong winds caused a number of wildfires to grow large, the conditions were similar in North Dakota.

Due to the extreme fire danger that the area is still experiencing on Wednesday, the state is beefing up their firefighting resources due to drought. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control has deployed two of their wildland fire engines to assist firefighters in North Dakota. The crews from Alamosa and Montrose are expecting to be on a two week assignment.

On Wednesday the South Dakota Governor declared a state of emergency to run through June 1 due to “severe drought and dangerous fire conditions,” a news release from the governor’s office said.

“This executive order is in response to the numerous fire incidents occurring throughout the state. The order will allow the state to provide greater assistance to the response efforts of local and volunteer firefighters,” the release said.

The Schroeder Fire that burned more than 2,100 acres Monday just west of Rapid City, SD prompted the evacuation of about 500 homes.

Elevated and Critical fire weather
Elevated and Critical fire weather is predicted for large areas of the central United States on April 1, 2021

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Dick and Dan.

Firefighter critically burned during Silverado Fire released from hospital

Two firefighters were severely burned October 26, 2020 on the Southern California wildfire

Dylan Van Iwaarden released from hospital
Dylan Van Iwaarden was released from hospital after being burned on the Silverado Fire. Screengrab from CBS Los Angeles video.

One of the two firefighters that were burned on the Silverado Fire in Orange County, California was released from the hospital Wednesday after spending 114 days in the Burn Center at Orange County Global Medical Center. Dylan Van Iwaarden was severely burned October 26 while working on an Orange County Fire Authority hand crew suppressing the blaze.

Since then he has battled for his life, had 17 surgeries, was in a medically induced coma, intubated, and endured endless procedures. Dylan is now headed to his next phase of recovery at the rehabilitation unit of UC Irvine Medical Center.

Another firefighter on the crew, Phi Le, was also burned during the incident. Both firefighters suffered severe second and third degree burns. The Orange County Register reports that Le spent time in a burn center but has been discharged and is continuing his rehabilitation from home as of Wednesday.

The report on the incident said the crew was firing out when a spot fire ignited below the crew. They escaped downhill to a dozer line but five crew members were impacted by radiant and convective heat, reporting singed hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes while stumbling out of the way of the spot fire’s path. Three others, the report said, “were impacted significantly”.

Former hotshot and smokejumper gives TEDx talk about resilience after very serious accident

Lane Lamoreaux tells his story

Lane Lamoreaux TEDx
Lane Lamoreaux at his TEDx talk at Big Sky, Montana January 30, 2021.

Last weekend at Big Sky, Montana a former hotshot and smokejumper gave a TEDx talk about his recipe for resilience in coming back from a life-threatening injury. In 2013 while paragliding in Southern California Lane Lamoreaux hit the ground very hard, shattering several bones and causing injuries that kept him in a coma for nine weeks. He is the subject of a documentary due out this fall.

His portion of the TEDx program begins at 1:20:00. The video should begin at that point.

After recovering from his injuries he worked at the National Interagency Fire Center making training videos, including some on the subject of Short Haul. He has also posted numerous videos on his personal account at YouTube.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Rick.