Inspection Detail

Inspection: 3049558 - Vander Fire Department

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 and his coworkers had finished fighting a woods fire. Employee #1 was standing in a cleared field taking equipment back to the fire station. It was already dark. A fire lane plow approached the field with a lot of undergrowth in front of the plow. The operator saw a pine tree burning approximately 12 ft from its base. Thinking the tree was a snag, the operator decided to push the tree into the fire area. Part of the pine tree fell into the open field where Employee #1 stood. The tree struck him on the back of his head and knocked him to the ground. He sustained a concussion and was killed.

Keywords: FIREFIGHTER, HEAD, OBSTRUCTED VIEW, WORK RULES, TREE, STRUCK BY, CONCUSSION, POOR VISIBILITY