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2026 WOR: Mulholland Fire Struck by Rock Fatality – Shawna Lynn Jones

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Shawna Lynn Jones, February 25, 2016

Today we honor Shawna Lynn Jones and seek to learn and improve from the circumstances that led to her passing.

Incident Summary: 

The Mulholland Fire was reported early in the morning on February 25, 2016. Located in steep terrain within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area of the National Park Service, the fire was roughly 12 acres and burning in chaparral with a heavy dead component due to drought. Initial response included approximately 200 personnel from county and federal units, including Shawna’s Los Angeles County Department of Corrections hand crew. In the early morning hours of February 25, a boulder was dislodged and rolled down the hill, striking Shawna’s head. Firefighters initiated CPR and Shawna was airlifted to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Shawna was 22 when she passed and had planned to continue a career in wildland fire upon completion of her sentence. Let us never forget her sacrifice. 

Discussion:

  • Crews responded to the Mulholland Fire in the early morning hours, during a time of year not normally associated with high fire activity. 
    • How does the timing and the seasonality of a fire response impact decision-making during initial attack?
  • On small fires, crews may find themselves working within a short distance of other resources, and may be uphill or downhill of those resources, with the potential for objects to roll downhill.
    • What precautions would your crew take when working near other resources on a steep slope?
  • Though the Mulholland Fire was not large, several factors increased its complexity.
    • What are some other factors beyond fire size that can contribute to complexity analyses?
    • How does the changing complexity of emerging incidents impact your actions and decision-making process as an Incident Commander, single resource boss, or crew member?

References:

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