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Week of Remembrance

2023 WOR: Stockyard Fire (Michigan) – July 1, 1988

 Day 1  |  Day 2  |  Day 3  |  Day 4  |  Day 5  |  Day 6  |  Day 7

 

Stockyard Fire (Michigan) – July 1, 1988

Today’s topic is dedicated to all of Michigan's fallen firefighters.
May we never stop learning.

 

The Stockyard Fire entrapment occurred on the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan on the evening of July 1st, 1988. A Heavy Equipment Boss (HEQB) was leading a team of three tractor plows constructing line along the west flank of the fire. The fire was backing to the west and the tractors were operating 30-50 feet from the fire edge. Conditions suddenly became calm, and the fire started to grow straight up. HEQB was leading the tractors toward a 2-track road when he noticed fire rapidly building. He directed the first two tractors to throttle up move out of the area and then went back to look for the third tractor. HEQB discovered the third tractor operator running and then falling. The HEQB went to the operator and extinguished the fire on his clothing and walked him out of the area. The tractor operator was taken to a burn center with second degree burns over 20% of his body.

 

What caused the change in fire behavior?

A DC-4 airtanker carrying 2,000 gallons of retardant flew along the right flank of the fire to alert the hand crew working there, circled, came back, and then dropped the retardant. The tanker flew at less than 400 feet above ground level and at approximately 140 miles per hour.

Later analysis by U.S. Forest Service researchers theorized that vortex turbulence developed that triggered extreme fire behavior. A sheet of turbulent air left in the wake of the aircraft rolled up into a strong pair of compact fast-spinning funnels of air. These two counter-rotating vortices likely stayed close together as they descended to ground level, in probably less than a minute, rolling apart as they hit the surface. This invisible sheet of rotating turbulent air left in the aircraft's wake caused the flanking fire to become a high wall of flames.

Discussion Points: Transition from normal to not normal

The report mentions the firefighters were operating how they “normally” would.

  • How can we prepare for ‘not normal’ events?
  • What are the limitations of basing all actions on current and expected fire behavior.

Resources

 

Category
Week of Remembrance


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NWCG Latest Announcements

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters

Date: January 15, 2025
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released Safety Warning: 25-001 Non-specification fire shelters. Non-specification fire shelters claiming to meet Forest Service (FS) fire shelter specification 5100-606 were first found in February of 2023. As of September 2024, non-specification shelters are again being advertised and sold on the open market.

This Safety Warning outlines details and recommended procedures to purchase FS specification shelters made with materials and components that meet performance criteria and toxicity testing requirements outlined in FS Specification 5100-606. 

For additional information on identifying non-specification shelters, please view ETC Safety Warning 23-01.

References:

ETC Safety Warning 25-001: Non-specification fire shelters

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee

ETC Safety Warning 23-01

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Awards

Date: January 14, 2025
Contact: Leadership Committee

The NWCG Leadership Committee has awarded the 2023 Paul Gleason “Lead By Example” awards to individuals in the categories of Initiative and Innovation, Mentoring and Teamwork, and Motivation and Vision, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Congratulations to the awardees:

  • Sam Bowen, Superintendent of the Mark Twain Veteran Crew with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Greg Titus, Zone Fire Management Officer for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
  • Renae Crippen, Manager of the Blue Mountain Interagency Dispatch Center with the U.S. Forest Service.
  • Eric Carlson, Instructor with OMNA International.

References:

Paul Gleason Lead by Example Award

Wildland Fire Leadership Development Program

Interview with Paul Gleason

Updated NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Water Scooper Operations Unit

The NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518 establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating water scooping aircraft on interagency wildland fires. These standards should be used in conjunction with the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision (SAS), PMS 505, and any local, state, or geographic/regional water scooping plans.

References:

NWCG Standards for Water Scooping Operations, PMS 518

Updated NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505

Date: December 19, 2024
Contact: Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee

The Interagency Aerial Supervision Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505. PMS 505 establishes standards for aerial supervision operations for national interagency wildland fire operations. 

References:

NWCG Standards for Aerial Supervision, PMS 505