Relatório do Acidente ocorrido no Incêndio Florestal de Yarnel Hill

• Fire behavior observed by the Granite Mountain IHC all day was in pulses and variable,
not a consistent fire spread direction.
• The Granite Mountain IHC’s original assignment to establish an anchor point and
construct fireline was no longer valid based on the fire’s movement.
• The Granite Mountain IHC knew they were the only resource left on the fireline. The
Blue Ridge IHC was pulling back to Yarnell.
• The primary focus of operational activity on the fire that day was on structure protection
to the north and northeast. However, by this time, the fire was moving southeast and
was beginning to threaten Yarnell. A Granite Mountain IHC member sent a text message
at 1555: “Fire is running at Yarnell!”
• General radio traffic markedly increased with the fire heading into Yarnell, the
evacuation order and its immediate initiation.
• A Granite Mountain IHC member sent a photo text message at 1604: “This thing is
runnin straight for yarnel jus starting evac. You can see fire on left town on the right.”
• The Granite Mountain IHC heard the Boulder Springs Ranch was a “bomb proof safety
zone” that morning. Using Google Maps and an iPad, they had seen the Ranch, as well
as potential trails and roads leading to it.
COURSES OF ACTION AVAILABLE AT POINT A, AT ABOUT 1604:
Course of Action A1: Stay in the black
• An active weather update called for north-northeast winds with gusts up to 50 mph. Fire
spread direction was likely to change during the afternoon. The fire was actively running
to the east-southeast, exhibiting extreme fire behavior, which exposes a very long flank.
If the north wind materialized, it could drive the open flank south (i.e., the flank could
turn into a head fire).
• The cold, black area adjacent to them was over 400 acres and extended over the lee
side of the ridge.
• The Granite Mountain IHC was on foot, separated from their trucks with limited overall
mobility.
• The Granite Mountain IHC and DIVS A were the only resources remaining on the fireline;
the others had withdrawn to Yarnell.
• The Granite Mountain IHC’s original assignment to establish an anchor point and
construct fireline was no longer valid based on fire movement, so there was no tactical
reason to remain at this location.
Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation 35