Relatório do Acidente ocorrido no Incêndio Florestal de Yarnel Hill

with radios on the incident, noting some radios do not have appropriate tone guards and
communication is adversely affected.
Division Supervisor Zulu (DIVS Z), a single resource ordered for the Type 3 team, arrives at the
Blue Ridge crew carriers around 1210 and calls DIVS A to discuss a division break and resource
assignments. DIVS Z is having radio problems, so he uses a Blue Ridge crew radio to talk with
DIVS A over the Blue Ridge intra-crew frequency. DIVS A and DIVS Z cannot agree on the
break location or associated supervisory responsibilities, resulting in uncertainty among some
personnel about the physical break between Divisions Alpha and Zulu. 6
BR Supt and BR Capt depart and drive GM Lookout down to the old grader, dropping him off at
1239. They feel comfortable leaving him at this spot, and BR Supt tells the lookout, “If you
need me, call, and I’ll come get you.”
After dropping off GM Lookout, BR Supt and BR Capt scout for opportunities to engage the fire.
The HEQB continues to work the dozer to open the line between Sesame Street and Shrine
Road. The Blue Ridge IHC move their crew carriers toward the Shrine of St. Joseph (the Shrine)
and a youth camp area around 1500 and then start preparing for burnout along the dozer line.
* * * * *
After BR Supt drops him off at the old grader at 1239, GM Lookout hikes about 120
yards north to the lookout spot and calls DIVS A to tell him he has “good eyes” on the Granite
Mountain crew. The crew also has a good view of him and of the fire. The Granite Mountain
IHC has good black, and is now going direct along the fire’s edge. Although the head of the fire
is pushing north toward structures in Peeples Valley, it is backing to the Granite Mountain IHC’s
location. Some dry drainages are out ahead of the crew. The crew anticipates the fire will
become more active around mid-afternoon, and they expect no additional support will arrive
since the focus of aircraft and firefighters is up north on the head of the fire. Given these
conditions, Granite Mountain IHC’s plan is to construct line direct along the fire’s edge, but they
do not want to overextend or overcommit themselves. They plan to take a little piece at a time,
then go back and secure the line to make sure it holds.
The Granite Mountain IHC reaches a rock face and takes lunch. After eating, the crew works
their way back, reinforcing their line as they go. They make sure their line is solid and they
have a good anchor point. For lookouts, they have DIVS A on a knob, GM Lookout down by the
grader and GM Capt near the anchor or in the immediate vicinity of the crew. Each is looking
out for the other two lookouts, the crew, and the fire. GM Lookout has trigger points for the
crew and for himself in case the fire changes direction. The crew has ongoing contact with the
6 DIVS A and OPS1 communicate later about the division break being at the grader.
Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation 21