Skip to main content

6MFS

6MFS Committee

All 6MFS Topics

6MFS Calendar

Aviation

Airtankers

Felling Safety

Fire Communication

Firefighter Health - First Aid

Leadership

Misc Fireline Hazards

Operational Engagement

This Day in History

Vehicles - Roads

Weather - Fire Behavior

Week of Remembrance

2023 Week of Remembrance Day 2

 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


Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee.


Follow NWCG on Twitter and Facebook

Print PDF

NWCG Latest Announcements

The Next Generation Position Task Book and Incident Position Standards are now available for Safety Officer, Field (SOFF)

Date: July 26, 2024
Contact: Risk Management Committee 

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Safety Officer, Field, PMS 350-81 and NWCG Position Task Book for Safety Officer, Field (SOFF), PMS 311-81 are now available.

The Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) is responsible for monitoring operations on an incident from a risk management perspective to provide for the welfare of incident resources and the public. The new Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort.

References:

NWCG Safety Officer, Field (SOFF) Position

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Safety Officer, Field, PMS 350-81

NWCG Position Task Book for Safety Officer, Field (SOFF), PMS 311-81

Updated NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc), PMS 277

Date: July 25, 2024
Contact: Incident Planning Subcommittee 

The Incident Planning Subcommittee has updated the NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc), PMS 277.

The NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc) establishes the standards for collection and retention of records on wildland fires. This July 2024 update will provide incident management teams the most current standards required to maintain incident records and submit them to host units at the close of an incident.

References:

NWCG Standards for Electronic Documentation (eDoc), PMS 277

eDoc Box Directory (zip file)

NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle Typing Standard Request for Comment

Date: July 24, 2024
Contact: Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee 

The Mobile Fire Equipment Subcommittee has released Equipment Bulletin 24-002 NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard - Request for Comment. This bulletin outlines the proposed NWCG OHV typing standard, as well as the business need for establishing the standard. Comments on the proposed standard will be accepted through August 15th using the comment form linked below.

References:

ETC-EB-2024-02: NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard - Request for Comment

NWCG Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Typing Standard Comment Form

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 - DRAFT

Date: July 18, 2024
Contact: National Interagency Aviation Committee 

A draft version of the new NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514, is now available. The NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations establishes the standards for dispatching, utilizing, and coordinating airtankers on wildland fires. As this is the first edition of these standards, the National Interagency Aviation Committee (NIAC) requests review and input into the 2025 final publication.

Please review and provide feedback by September 1st, 2024 for consideration. Feedback can be provided utilizing the NWCG Publication Review Form.

References:

NWCG Standards for Airtanker Operations, PMS 514 - DRAFT

NWCG Publications Review Form