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Tag: Pack Test

Fatality during Work Capacity Test in Arizona

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , 16 Comments on Fatality during Work Capacity Test in Arizona

There has been another fatality of a person attempting to take the Work Capacity Test. There are three versions of the test — the most strenuous, the Pack Test, is required for federal wildland firefighters in order to become qualified to serve in a position which involves direct action on a wildland fire.

Below is the text from a preliminary 24-hour briefing from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

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“THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Location: Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Sasabe Arizona
Date of Occurrence: June 6, 2015
Time of Occurrence: Approximately 0800 hours
Activity: Work Capacity Test
Number and type of injuries/fatalities: One, Fatality
Property loss: None

Narrative:

At approximately 0800 hours on June 6, 2015, a 31 year old Student Conservation Association (SCA) employee, Veteran Fire Corps crewmember, collapsed 200 yards from the finish line while participating in the Wildland Firefighter Work Capacity Test. Medical care was immediately rendered by on-site, local EMS including the utilization of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The individual was loaded in the Ambulance, which had been staged on-site for the test, within 5 minutes of his collapse and transported to an Advanced Care Facility.

The cause of death has not yet been determined.

The name of the deceased has not yet been released pending family notifications.” (end of report)

(UPDATE, June 9, 2015: the name of the firefighter has been released.)

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Here are examples of five other fatalities while taking the Pack test.

In 2012 there was a near fatality during the test when a firefighter in Indiana suffered a full cardiac arrest. Thankfully, as a result of the precautions that were in place, including the presence of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), there was a positive outcome.

Related:
Articles on Wildfire Today tagged “Pack Test”.

The Pack Test in D.C.

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags 3 Comments on The Pack Test in D.C.

Spent the morning helping administer the fireline pack test.

A photo posted by Michael Gue (@young_men_and_fire) on

The Work Capacity Test, or “Pack Test”, requires wildland firefighters to carry 45 pounds for three miles in less than 45 minutes. Vests loaded with lead weights are often used, but any type of pack can be carried as long as it weighs 45 pounds.

Wyoming firefighter dies while taking Pack Test

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , ,

(UPDATE: May 19, 2104)

Below is a news release issued today:

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For Immediate Release

Wyoming State Forestry Division Employee Line of Duty Death

May 19, 2014

Contact: Bill Crapser, Wyoming State Forester 307-214-7843

(Newcastle, Wyo.) — The Wyoming State Forestry Division employee that died in the line of duty on May 17, 2014, in Newcastle, Wyoming has been identified as Honor Conservation Crew Supervisor Ted Drake.

Mr. Drake was participating with other employees in the annual firefighter work capacity test (pack test when he suffered a heart attack and attempts to revive him on scene were not successful.

Mr. Drake was 63 years old and had worked for the Wyoming State Forestry Division as a Crew Supervisor since June 2006.

“The Wyoming State Forestry Division is deeply saddened by this tragic event,” Bill Crapser, Wyoming State Forester said. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and co-workers. The support from the fire service in Wyoming and the wildland fire service nationally is greatly appreciated.”

According to the Billings Gazette Mr. Crapser said Mr. Drake was the first worker to have died in service to the department since it came into existence in 1952.

A memorial service for Mr. Drake will be held Tuesday at Newcastle Assembly of God church.

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(Originally published May 18, 2014)

The Billings Gazette is reporting that a firefighter with the Wyoming State Forestry Division died Saturday, May 17 while taking the Pack Test.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, suffered an apparent heart attack during the test, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. The test requires that a person walk three miles in less than 45 minutes while carrying a 45-pound pack.

Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser said in a press release, “The Wyoming State Forestry Division is deeply saddened by this tragic event. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and co-workers.”

Our sincere condolences go out to the firefighter’s friends, family, and co-workers.

 

 

Thanks and a hat tip go out to Chris.

Arizona firefighter dies while taking pack test

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , 17 Comments on Arizona firefighter dies while taking pack test

On Saturday, March 8, 61-year old  volunteer firefighter Bobby Mollere of the Hellsgate Fire Department in Star Valley, Arizona collapsed and died while taking the pack test version of the Work Capacity Test, which requires a person to carry a 45-pound pack for three miles in less than 45 minutes. The cause of death was listed as “stress/overexertion” and heart attack.

Below is the official notice from the U.S. Fire Administration:

While performing a Wildland Pack Test, Lieutenant Mollere collapsed on the Payson High School track. Fellow firefighters on scene initiated a medical assessment and found Mollere in cardiac arrest. The EMTs and Paramedics began advanced life support immediately on scene. Lieutenant Mollere was transported to the Payson Regional Medical Center where resuscitative efforts continued until he passed away. Incident Location: Payson High School track, AZ (U.S. National Grid: 12S VC 6952 8857)

Our sincere condolences go out to Mr. Mollere’s family, friends, and fellow firefighters.

Previously we have written about other fatalities and serious injuries that occurred while taking the Pack Test. Federal land management agencies and some other organizations require that their on-the-ground firefighters pass the test once a year in order to be qualified to fight wildland fires.

Laguna Hot Shots taking Pack Test
File photo of the Laguna Hot Shots, based at Descanso, California, taking the Pack Test while wearing weighted vests. Photo by Laguna Hotshots.

Fatality in New Mexico while taking Work Capacity Test

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , , ,

A firefighter taking the Work Capacity Test (WCT) at the Northern Pueblos Agency in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico collapsed and died Wednesday, July 24. According to the preliminary 24-hour report, Emergency Medical Personnel that were on scene monitoring the test immediately initiated CPR and other lifesaving measures with assistance from the Agency Staff. The patient was transported to the Espanola Hospital four miles away where he was pronounced dead.

The report does not specify if the individual was a firefighter or was attempting to qualify for another fire-related position.

Our sincere condolences go out to the person’s family and co-workers.

There are three versions of the WCT, for firefighters and those who will be in less strenuous jobs. Firefighters have to take the Arduous Pack Test version, which requires hiking 3 miles in less than 45 minutes while carrying 45 pounds.

According to the report “Wildland Firefighter Fatalities in the United States: 1990–2006” (NWCG 2007) 11 fire personnel died during that seven-year period while preparing for or taking the work capacity test. Another died in 2007. In 2011 a firefighter taking the test suffered a non-fatal but severe case of rhabdomyolysis, which if not treated early can lead to irreversible muscle damage, permanent disability, kidney failure possibly requiring lifelong dialysis, and even death.

Creation of arduous duty EMT Fireline positions

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories UncategorizedTags , 6 Comments on Creation of arduous duty EMT Fireline positions

EMTThe National Wildfire Coordination Group’s Risk Management Committee has distributed a memo announcing that new positions have been created — Line Emergency Medical Technicians with the requirement of passing the Pack Test at the arduous level. The three positions are, EMT Fireline, Advanced EMT Fireline, and Paramedic Fireline.

Below are the first two pages of the memo. Details about the qualifications can be found at the NIFC site.

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“Safety Advisory

Date: May 28, 2013

Subject: Creation of Arduous Duty Line Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Positions

Issue: The Risk Management Committee has agreed that the creation of these new positions is in the best interest of the wildland fire community. Federal members have worked with agency Training and Qualifications staff to incorporate them into the Incident Qualification and Certification System (IQCS) as Technical Specialists.

Consideration was given to the need for these positions to maintain an Arduous Fitness level:

1. Line going emergency care providers will carry all the prescribed medical equipment and their line gear to sustain them through a work shift requiring above average endurance and superior conditioning.

2. The very purpose of providing emergency medical care to an employee in the fire environment means they may be called upon to respond on foot at a rapid pace in adverse environmental conditions. The pace of this work is set by the emergency.

3. Once on scene, the EMS resource will provide for patient care. The physical action of transporting the patient will typically be carried out by fireline resources on scene; however the physical demands of maintaining patient care may last for an extended period of time in adverse environmental conditions while carrying fireline gear.


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