SLAUGHTER GULCH FIRE

1. SLAUGHTER GULCH FIRE July 23, 2005

2. REPRESENTATIVE FUELS

5. Looking North, note the Structures

6. N

7. Lightning caused fire Sagebrush with heavy cheatgrass understory ROS 5-10, FL 4-5’ Down-canyon winds Thunder storms in the area Most resources at structures up the canyon 1 N

8. BMFPD Engine B-810 (2 personnel) arrive on scene. Sets up even with the head and begins to deploy hard-line App. 100’ of unburned fuel between and the fire and B-810 2

9. BLM Engine 605 (3 personnel) and 605 Chase (4 personnel) arrive on scene from the south B-810 pulls off road (facing away from the road) to allow vehicles to pass 2 Rifle Helitack arrive on foot All personnel out of vehicles, E-605 crew putting on fire line gear 11 personnel on site 3

10. Downdraft from cumulonimbus cloud causes wind to increase and change direction This occurs approximately 45 seconds after E-605’s arrival Fire intensity and Rate-of-Spread increase 4

11. 5

12. E-605 w/ 3 drive up canyon to the black Chase 605 w/ 4 backs down canyon B-810 crew (2) goes south on foot Rifle Helitack (2) goes south on foot, leave a chainsaw on the west side of the road 6

13. 7 B-810 (unstaffed) is left in where it was parked facing out

14. Fire crosses Slaughter Gulch Road 8

15. B-810 becomes involved, receives moderate damage Rifle Helitack chainsaw is destroyed 9

16. Approximately 5 minutes after the wind shift, heavy rains hit the fire area, stopping fire spread 10

25. 18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS • Fire not scouted and sized up. • In country not seen in daylight. • Safety zones and escape routes not identified. • Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior • Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. • Instructions and assignments not clear. • No communication link between crewmembers andsupervisors. • Constructing line without safe anchor point. • Building line downhill with fire below. • Attempting frontal assault on fire. • Unburned fuel between you and the fire. • Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can. • On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. • Weather gets hotter and drier. • Wind increases and/or changes direction. • Getting frequent spot fires across line. • Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. • Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

26. 18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS • Fire not scouted and sized up. • In country not seen in daylight. • Safety zones and escape routes not identified! • Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior • Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. • Instructions and assignments not clear. • No communication link between crewmembers andsupervisors. • Constructing line without safe anchor point. • Building line downhill with fire below. • Attempting frontal assault on fire. • Unburned fuel between you and the fire. • Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can. • On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. • Weather gets hotter and drier. • Wind increases and/or changes direction. • Getting frequent spot fires across line. • Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. • Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

27. 18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS • Fire not scouted and sized up. • In country not seen in daylight. • Safety zones and escape routes not identified! • Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior • Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. • Instructions and assignments not clear. • No communication link between crewmembers andsupervisors. • Constructing line without safe anchor point! • Building line downhill with fire below. • Attempting frontal assault on fire. • Unburned fuel between you and the fire. • Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can. • On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. • Weather gets hotter and drier. • Wind increases and/or changes direction. • Getting frequent spot fires across line. • Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. • Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

28. 18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS • Fire not scouted and sized up. • In country not seen in daylight. • Safety zones and escape routes not identified! • Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior • Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. • Instructions and assignments not clear. • No communication link between crewmembers andsupervisors. • Constructing line without safe anchor point! • Building line downhill with fire below. • Attempting frontal assault on fire! • Unburned fuel between you and the fire. • Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can. • On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. • Weather gets hotter and drier. • Wind increases and/or changes direction. • Getting frequent spot fires across line. • Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. • Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

29. 18 WATCH OUT SITUATIONS • Fire not scouted and sized up. • In country not seen in daylight. • Safety zones and escape routes not identified! • Unfamiliar with weather and local factors influencing fire behavior • Uninformed on strategy, tactics, and hazards. • Instructions and assignments not clear. • No communication link between crewmembers andsupervisors. • Constructing line without safe anchor point! • Building line downhill with fire below. • Attempting frontal assault on fire! • Unburned fuel between you and the fire! • Cannot see main fire, not in contact with anyone who can. • On a hillside where rolling material can ignite fuel below. • Weather gets hotter and drier. • Wind increases and/or changes direction. • Getting frequent spot fires across line. • Terrain or fuels make escape to safety zones difficult. • Feel like taking a nap near fireline.

30. 10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS • Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts • Know what your fire is doing at all times. • Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire. • Identify escape routes and make them known. • Post lookouts when there is possible danger. • Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively. • Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces. • Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. • Maintain control of your forces at all times. • Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.

31. 10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS • Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts • Know what your fire is doing at all times. • Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire! • Identify escape routes and make them known. • Post lookouts when there is possible danger. • Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively. • Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces. • Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. • Maintain control of your forces at all times. • Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.

32. 10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS • Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts • Know what your fire is doing at all times. • Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire! • Identify escape routes and make them known! • Post lookouts when there is possible danger. • Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively. • Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces. • Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. • Maintain control of your forces at all times. • Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first.

33. 10 STANDARD FIRE ORDERS • Keep informed on fire weather conditions and forecasts • Know what your fire is doing at all times. • Base all actions on current and expected behavior of the fire! • Identify escape routes and make them known! • Post lookouts when there is possible danger. • Be alert. Keep calm. Think clearly. Act decisively. • Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your supervisor and adjoining forces. • Give clear instructions and insure they are understood. • Maintain control of your forces at all times. • Fight fire aggressively, having provided for safety first!