Report released on prescribed fire burn injury

Burned pants

Burned pantsA Lessons Learned report has been released for a serious burn injury that occurred on the Saddle Salvage Natural Fuels burn unit, a prescribed fire somewhere in the Northwest. Oddly, neither the agency or even the state were identified, but the injured firefighter was eventually transferred to Harborview Burn Center in Seattle.

Briefly, a firefighter’s Nomex pants caught fire while he was using a drip torch to ignite vegetation during a black-lining operation. He suffered second and third degree burns over 20‐25% of his body, both legs and the left hand. He spent five weeks at the burn center but is now back to work on light duty. A full recovery is expected.

The report found that the management of the response to the injury went very well. Quite a bit went right.

A lab analysis of the protective clothing worn by the victim indicated that fuel was present on his pants and boots. Some of the fuel may have been deposited onto the clothing the previous day during ignition operations. Nomex contaminated with torch fuel is flammable even with small amounts of fuel and a low ratio of gas to diesel (1:5 gas to diesel) mixture.

The drip torch was inspected later at the Missoula Technology Development Center. Investigators found that the breather (vent) tube was in the torch but not attached to the breather tube screw. If the breather tube was disconnected from the breather tube screw during use, and the breather screw was open, fuel would drip from the screw.

A lab analysis of the drip torch fuel mix was completed. The analyzed torch fuel was not drawn from the injured employee’s torch, but did come from another torch that was used on the burn unit. Investigators concluded that the fuel was approximately a 1:1 gas/diesel mixture, which is a much higher concentration of gasoline than is specified in the U.S. Forest Service Health and Safety Code Handbook.

An unusual air safety briefing

I may be the only person who had not seen this video before today because it’s had a ton of views on YouTube. It appears to be an actual video safety briefing for Air New Zealand passengers on a Boeing 777. I have a feeling that it will be more meaningful to those who have seen the Hobbit movies.

OSHA issues citation for firefighter fatality on Steep Corner Fire

(Originally posted at 2:00 p.m. MT, Feb. 12, 2013; updated at 5:44 p.m. MT.)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a citation related to the fatality of Anne Veseth, a 20-year-old U.S. Forest Service firefighter from Moscow, Idaho who was killed August 12, 2012 while working on the Steep Corner Fire near Orofino, Idaho. The citation was issued to the organization managing the fire, the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (CPTPA). The citation comes with a “Notification of Penalty”, fines totaling $14,000.

OSHA also issued a Notice of Unsafe or Unhealthful Working Conditions to the U.S. Forest Service, but without a monetary penalty.

Ms. Veseth was killed by a falling tree, when one tree fell and crashed into another tree, causing it to fall in a domino effect. The day before she was killed, the Flathead Hotshots arrived at the fire, and after scouting it and assessing the situation, they concluded it was not safe to work under the conditions that were present. Then they left the fire after talking with the incident commander. Three days later they filed a SAFENET report, documenting the unsafe conditions at the fire.

The Citation for the CPTPA and the Notice for the USFS were both dated February 7, 2013.

The CPTPA citation was for the following:

  • Serious violation: For not providing a safe working environment; 8 of the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders were violated, and they did not mitigate 11 of the 18 Watch Out Situations. Proposed penalty: $4,900.
  • Serious violation: employees engaged in wildland firefighting were exposed to being struck by hazard trees while constructing fire line.  Proposed penalty: $4,900.
  • Serious violation: Firefighters constructing direct fire line did not have fire shelters readily available. Firefighters constructing fire line were wearing denim and work pants not rated as fire resistant. Proposed penalty: $4,200.

The U.S. Forest Service Notice of Unsafe or Unhealthful Working Conditions was for the following:

  • Serious Violation: 7 of the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders were violated,  and they did not mitigate 9 of the 18 Watch Out Situations.
  • Repeat Violation: employees engaged in wildland firefighting were exposed to being struck by hazard trees while constructing fire line.

If the violations are not contested they must be abated by various dates in March, 2013, and the fine must be paid within 15 working days.

Video: personal protective equipment

The National Interagency Fire Center has released a video about the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) on a wildland fire. It features Bob Knutson, the state safety manager for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada. He points out that there have been a number of burn injuries over the last few years that have a common denominator — the lack of PPE or the inappropriate use of PPE.

One thing missing from the video was the use of PPE that is seldom washed and is so contaminated with chain saw oil or other filth that it is no longer fire resistant.

Powerline training for wildland firefighters

The Salt River Project, an Arizona utility company, collaborated with the Coconino National Forest to produce the training video below that discusses dangers and safety practices for wildland firefighters working near powerlines. The Missoula Technology Development Center reviewed the video and found it suitable for training wildland firefighters.

The video explains:

  • The roles and responsibilities of the utility company.
  • How water, foam, retardant, or smoke can conduct electricity to the ground or across powerlines.
  • Aircraft safety near powerlines.
  • The difference between “step potential” and “touch potential” and how to respond accordingly.
  • How to safely exit and move away from a vehicle energized by a downed powerline.

U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management employees can access the video on the internal Forest Service network at http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/programs/fire/video/safety.htm

Video case study – Deer Park Fire serious injury complicated by helicopter incident

Deer Park Fire, patient on litter
An injured firefighter is moved using a “conveyor belt” technique on the Deer Park Fire. Screen grab from the video.

In August of 2010 Wildfire Today covered the Facilitated Learning Analysis about a serious injury complicated by a helicopter incident that occurred on the Deer Park Fire on the Sawtooth National Forest in central Idaho.

On that fire a member of the Flathead Hotshots suffered a broken femur caused by a rolling boulder. The initial treatment and extraction was complex and became an incident within an incident. A Life Flight helicopter that was going to fly him out landed on the edge of a small helispot and tipped back, resting on its enclosed tail rotor, in danger of sliding down a steep slope. This put the helicopter and the helispot out of commission — thus becoming an incident within an incident, within an incident.

Deer Park Fire, tipping helicopter
The Life Flight helicopter on the Deer Park Fire, after landing, and in danger of sliding down a steep slope. Screen grab from the video.

The fire overhead, the Flathead Hotshots, and some smokejumpers on the fire organized to deal effectively with these three incidents — the fire, the medical emergency, and the aviation incident, and the successful results became a case study that firefighters can learn from.

The National Interagency Fire Center produced a video which features three of the firefighters involved in the incident, plus a telephone interview with the injured hotshot. The video includes a lot of photographs and video shot by firefighters during the incident. It is very well done and is worth 20 minutes of your time.

The Flathead Hotshots have been mentioned at least two other times on Wildfire Today. In 2008 several members of the crew were struck by lightning. And last August they turned down an assignment on the Steep Corner Fire near Orofino, Idaho because of unresolved safety issues, including falling snags. The next day Anne Veseth, a 20-year-old firefighter from Moscow, Idaho working on the fire was killed by a falling tree.

Report released on serious injury while suppressing fire aided by ropes

Ropes FLA, cover

Ropes FLA, cover

A facilitated learning analysis has been released for a serious injury that occurred while firefighters were taking suppression action on an extremely steep slope above the Columbia River Gorge on the border between Washington and Oregon.

That portion of the Milepost 66 fire was too steep for firefighters to work without some form of protection or a fall arrest device. An engine crew from the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area certified in tree climbing and low angle rope use was assigned to work the slope using ropes. The CRGNSA is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Two crew members rappelled down the slope, taking action on hot spots they ran across. They arrived at a bench and mopped up more of the fire. When finished, they rappelled down to the highway below. What happened next is in the excerpt below:

…As crew member #2 reached the edge, or lip, of the 70’ cliff, he though “it’s a little loose,” meaning that rock was falling from the slope below the bench. The loose rock was also noticed by someone watching from below. Crew member #2 continued his descent down the rope when his hand tool got stuck about 20’ below the lip. He reached back to make an adjustment and continue his descent. At the halfway point crew member #2 called crew member #1, “I just got hit by a rock.” Crew member #3 was at the HWY taking photos and witnessed a rock fall and hit crew member #2. Crew member #3 didn’t see where the rock came from but estimated the rock was the size of a small melon or softball. This happened approximately 30’ above the HWY. Crew member #2 paused and then continued the descent to the HWY. Crew member #3 called out to #2, “are you OK?”, received no response and started moving toward #2. By the time crew member #3 arrived, #2 said he wasn’t doing well. Crew member #2 was bleeding and had some deformity on the left side of his face. Crew member #3 removed #2’s harness and called for the trauma kit from the engine. Crew member #3 said it was obvious that Crew member #2 was in serious pain.

Ropes FLA, anchoring from above the bench
Photo from the FLA

According to the report, the injured firefighter was treated on scene by two paramedics and transported to a hospital within 17 minutes of the injury. There are no details provided about the diagnosis of the injury or the patient’s recovery, but the firefighter was admitted to the Hood River County Hospital and later referred to Oregon Health Science University hospital for a more complete evaluation.

Some of the conclusions, lessons learned, and suggestions in the report included:

  • Implement the use of heat-resistant ropes.
  • The applicability of the USFS Tree Climbing training to the fire environment Rope Belay Program should be more fully evaluated.
  • There is a need for a written operating plan, SOP’s, safety checklist and/or risk analyses.
  • Depending on the level of risk identified by the team and duty officer during the risk analysis process of each particular mission, approval for the operation might be bumped up to a higher management level (Fire Engine Operator -> Fire Management Officer -> Agency Administrator).

Norovirus on Elbow Pass fire: lessons learned

The Montana Department of Natural Resources has released a lessons learned report on an outbreak of Norovirus on the Elbow Pass fire in August. It appears that quick, decisive action by the incident management team reduced the spread of the disease before it infected a large number of firefighters.

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Lessons Learned

Montana DNRC, Northern Region Safety & Occupational Health

December 2012

Summary of incident:

On the morning of August 4th, 2012, three food handlers who were working for a state kitchen on the Elbow Pass Fire became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms and were transported to a health clinic for treatment. The safety officer and Logistics Section Chief from the Elbow Pass fire camp immediately took precautions, including contacting the Lewis and Clark County Health Department to report a possible outbreak of food-borne illness. Officials from the health department were dispatched on August 5th to investigate the site, and found the kitchen had met cleaning standards and was in good working order. Samples from those sickened were sent to a lab, two of which ultimately tested positive for Norovirus G1. Norovirus is commonly known as stomach flu, and can spread rapidly through person-to-person contact and food contamination, especially in closed communities such as fire camps. The entire kitchen and all kitchen staff were demobilized from the incident on August 6th, and the kitchen was cleaned two more times. By August 7th, an additional four cases were reported for a total of seven individuals. There was no evidence that the virus was ever spread through the kitchen or food, as all cases were directly tied to person-to-person contact. No additional cases were reported after the 7th, and all individuals that were sickened recovered within 24 hours of showing signs of infection.

What was done well:

1. The rapid response of the Incident Command team: this included calling the County Health Department as soon as symptoms were detected and requesting additional medics to be assigned to the incident.

2. Food contact surfaces were disinfected early, and the kitchen overall was held to a high standard of cleanliness.

3. Ill food handlers were kept away from the food production area, transported to a clinic for assessment and treatment, and were not allowed to return to work until well after recovery.

4. The responsiveness of the Incident Management Team and the DNRC-CLO staff to establish timelines for treatment, quarantine of individuals (and separate toilet facilities), and cleaning of the kitchen.

5. Quickly after the outbreak, a back-up plan was established for switching to an alternative food source.

6. The fire camp implemented early on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, “Infectious Diseases Guidelines for Wildland Fire Management Teams”.

Recommendations/Lessons Learned:

1. Strive to have toilets and “warm water” hand washing stations in place at the incident as soon as possible once crews start to assemble or arrive at the incident.

2. Eliminate or reduce “self-service” food handling. This includes salad and fruit bars, and communal coolers.

3. Encourage everyone in fire camps to practice good hygiene procedures, and educate Incident Management Teams in early detection of food borne illnesses and how to contain them.

4. Specifically train those working as kitchen staff in proper hygiene procedures as well as in early detection of food borne illnesses.

5. Kitchen units, whether state-owned or private contractors, should consider the purchase or lease of portable toilets that can be exclusively used by and travel with the kitchen unit.

 

Wildfire briefing, November 15, 2012

Dave Thomas receives IAWF Safety Award

Burned firefighter dragged to safety

A 24-hour report about an October 29 incident on the Spur Fire on the Stanislaus National Forest in California is an example of extraordinary work by a couple of firefighters to assist an injured crewmember. Here is the narrative:

A Cal Fire crew was engaged in direct hand line construction during initial attack when a crew member fell and injured his knee. The fire crew captain directed his crew to retreat into the black, and with the help of another firefighter, dragged the injured firefighter through the flame front and into the black. In the process, the captain received a minor first degree radiant heat burn to the left side of his face with no other injury. Both the captain and the firefighter were evaluated at a local hospital and released. No other injuries were sustained by the crew. A Facilitated Learning Analysis (FLA) team is on scene reviewing this incident.

As a reminder, HERE is a link to the guidelines for burn injuries that should be referred to a burn unit, according to Ameriburn.org.

Dave Thomas receives Safety Award

Dave Thomas receives IAWF Safety Award
Dave Thomas receives IAWF Safety Award. Photo by IAWF.

The International Association of Wildland Fire gave their Wildland Safety Award to Dave Thomas of Ogden, Utah. The IAWF said:

The award was given to Dave in recognition of his on-going study of and instruction on the implications of human behavior to firefighter safety. During a 33 year career with the US Forest Service, Mr. Thomas worked as a firefighter, fire manager, fire behavior analyst, regional fire specialist and review team member.

Currently, he’s working on capturing the “deep smarts” of retired fire management employees with high expertise in the fields of fire behavior, prescribed fire and wildland fire use with Harvard Business School.

Wyoming ran out of suppression funds

The busier than usual 2012 wildfire season has taken its toll on the budgets of federal and state agencies. Approximately 1,300 fires in Wyoming burned about 600,000 acres and consumed all of the money the state had allocated for fire suppression. The state’s share of fighting wildfires this season will total an estimated $42 million after accounting for the portion that will be paid by the federal government.

Senator says we need newer air tankers

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet has issued a press release stating that he is in favor of the modernization of the firefighting air tanker fleet.

More photos of firefighting aircraft on Google Earth

Remember when we told you that Google Earth had photos of aircraft working on fires? It turns out there are even more, this time on the Wallow Fire.

 

Firefighter on Idaho fire survives pneumonia and septic shock

Having medical personnel on a fire with the ability to administer IVs may have prevented a death on the Halstead Fire near Stanley, Idaho in September.

The firefighters at the incident base were sleeping in cold, damp, conditions. At times the temperature was as low as 12 degrees at night and inversions caused the area to be smoked in.

The firefighter was diagnosed with septic shock which has a death rate of over 60 percent. The initial treatment by a medic may have saved his life. Congratulations to the medic for the treatment provided, and to the Incident Management Team for having a Medical Unit on scene with the ability to administer IVs.

Here are some excerpts from the Facilitated Learning Analysis:

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On September 13, 2012, “Jim”, a firefighter from the Halstead fire, near Stanley, Idaho, was transported via ambulance to a hospital in Ketchum, Idaho. The next morning he was transported by life flight to Twin Falls, Idaho. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis [blood poisoning], and was suffering from septic shock. He stayed in the ICU for two days and remained in the hospital for three additional days.

[…]

In the days leading up to the incident, the Medical Unit on the fire reported having 30 to 40 cough and cold symptom related cases a day; roughly 10 to 15 percent of the people in camp.

[…after being treated at the fire and while being transported to the hospital…]

The next morning the attending physician elected to transport Jim via life flight to a larger medical facility in Twin Falls. Jim had been diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis, and was suffering from septic shock. In layman’s terms that means he had fluid in his lungs and was suffering from blood poisoning, and the blood poisoning sent his body into shock. The doctor’s assessment was that the blood poisoning was caused by the pneumonia.

The next morning CRWB(t) saw Jim just after he had a “central line” put in his neck. A centralline is used to administer medication or fluids, obtain blood tests (specifically the “mixed venous oxygen saturation”), and directly obtain cardiovascular measurements such as the central venous pressure. CRWB(t) saw quite a bit of blood on Jim and saw his demeanor and became very concerned. He asked one of the hospital staff how Jim was doing and the person replied by asking CRWB(t) how old he was. CRWB(t) said “27” and the person said, “If this had happened to you, you would be dead right now.” CRWB(t) did not leave Jim’s side from that moment until Jim’s mom came to look after him.

According to WebMD (www.webmd.com), permanent organ damage can occur in people who survive sepsis, the death rate for sepsis is 20%, and the death rate from septic shock is over 60%.