Relatório do Acidente ocorrido no Incêndio Florestal de Yarnel Hill

DISCUSSION
Deployment Site Preparation:
In radio transmissions, the crew superintendent stated they were preparing a deployment site and
burning out around the crew. Chainsaws were audible in the background and it is clear the crew
was taking steps to improve the deployment site. Burning out and removing brush would make the
deployment site larger, which would improve their chances of survival. From their first known radio
transmission at the deployment site (where chainsaws can be heard) to the last known
transmission, less than 2 minutes transpired.
A chainsaw gas/oil bottle was found by itself 30 feet from the north corner of the deployment site.
This particular bottle was not ruptured, in contrast to most fuel bottles found in and around the
deployment site. In addition, another bottle was found by itself off the south corner of the site and
some fusees without ignition caps were found to the northeast of the site. The crew may have
used these gas/oil bottles and fusees during a deployment site burnout attempt.
There were up to eight sawed brush stumps of one to two inches in diameter found on the
northeast and southeast sides of the deployment site. The fire most likely consumed the ends of
the smaller cut brush. There were three saws found 20 to 40 feet off the southeast and east side
of the deployment site. The furthest cut brush stump is approximately 45 feet from the east corner
of the site.
The estimated fire rate of spread near the deployment site was about 11 miles-per-hour. At this
rate, the fire front would have travelled 100 yards in about 19 seconds. It takes a well-trained
firefighter approximately 15 to 25 seconds to deploy a fire shelter from pulling the shelter PVC bag
tear strip to fully deployed.
After the last heard radio transmission from Granite Mountain, there were several audible radio
squelch breaks of unknown origin and radio frequency. It is unclear if anyone from Granite
Mountain IHC made radio transmissions while inside their fire shelter.
Fire Shelter Deployment:
A few packs were thrown clear of the deployment site, but some fireline packs with fusees and
saw gas and oil, hand tools, and a chainsaw were found throughout the deployment site. Some
firefighters lied on or directly next to some of these items.
Nine firefighters were wearing gloves.
Seven firefighters were found inside fully deployed fire shelters. Another four firefighters were
inside their shelters mostly deployed. Eight of the firefighters were found with partially deployed
shelters; five of the eight were outside of their shelters, lying supine. The evidence is unclear as to
whether the partially-deployed firefighters were in the process of deploying their shelters when
they were overtaken, or if they were fully deployed inside their shelters and then attempted to
move with the shelter or attempted to exit the shelter.
Yarnell Hill Fire Serious Accident Investigation 83