Florida Division of Forestry

Preliminary Summary Report of Serious FL DOF

Injuries, Illnesses, Accidents and Near-Miss Incidents

Okeechobee District
Entrapment

July 28, 2010

Incident #2010-16-0429

This Preliminary Summary Report is intended as an aid in accident prevention, and to provide
factual information from the first 24 hours of the incident review. To that end it is published and
distributed within a short time frame. Information contained within may be subject to revision
as further investigation is conducted, and other reports and documents are received.
Entrapment Preliminary Report

Synopsis
The following information is a preliminary summary of an entrapment that occurred while
conducting wildland fire suppression activities in Indian River County within the Florida
Division of Forestry’s Okeechobee District.

Narrative
At 1246 hours on July 28, 2010, the Florida Division of Forestry received a request for a
dozer/plow unit to respond to the area of mile marker 154 on the west side of Interstate 95 in
Indian River County. The initial responding unit, OK-34/35, a Type 3 Transport, Enclosed Cab
Dozer/Plow unit, went enroute at 1250 hours. Shortly after, two supervisors from the area went
enroute followed by OK-36/37 at 1312 hours, another Type 3 Transport, Enclosed Cab
Dozer/Plow unit. Upon arrival by the initial unit, OK-34/35, the fire was estimated at 90 acres
and reportedly burning slowly in light-medium rough.

The fire was burning to the west towards a wet area when the initial unit (OK 34/35) began fire
suppression efforts on the right flank around 1336 hours. When the second unit (OK 36/37)
arrived at 1340 hours, the operator noticed that the wind was shifting and could see that the left
flank was becoming the head. The second unit began fire suppression efforts on the left flank
around 1347 hours. At approximately 1412 hours, the initial Dozer/Plow unit (OK-35) became
stuck in the wet area. OK-37 turned back to provide assistance. At this time, the fire was
estimated at 100 acres and 30% contained. Fire activity had increased with flame lengths about
15 feet.

During the attempt to free the stuck Dozer/Plow unit, the responding unit became stuck also. At
approximately 1425 hours, the fire was encroaching upon the Dozer/Plow units and both
operators took refuge inside the cab of OK-37. They utilized one of the operators’ fire shelters
by holding it up against the glass to protect them from radiant heat. The operators were in
communication with the supervisors on scene during the entrapment and remained inside the cab
for approximately 10-15 minutes until the fire passed. There were no injuries and no damage to
any equipment as a result of this entrapment.

Incident Review Team

An Incident Review Team has been formed and will travel to the Okeechobee District on
Monday, August 2, 2010 to complete the investigation of this entrapment. A final report will be
submitted to the Chief of Forest Protection on Friday, August 6, 2010.