Inspection Detail

Inspection: 310199575 - California Dept. Of Forestry & Fire Protection

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on November 24, 2007, Employee #1, a firefighter, was assigned to a fire truck with two other firefighters for structure protection of houses. The fire truck used was a Type 3 FTH (Model Number 35). These houses were located in a remote location in the hills and were threaten by the Corral Canyon Fire. The fire already past through the area and they were in a mop-up mode of operation. Employee #1 got off the fire truck to put out a small fire on the side of the road next to the driveway of a house. At the same time, one of the other employees was putting eye drops into his eyes. A third firefighter was in the truck. Employee #1 used a reel line (small hose line) to put out the fire approximately 3-ft by 3-ft in size. Employee #1 sprayed the fire and the fire flared up and engulfed him. At the time Employee #1 had his shroud down which is an acceptable procedure for mopping up small fires. The source of the fire was a plastic trash can that was on fire. Employee #1 said he believed that the fire was a small brush (vegetative) fire not a plastic fire. Employee #1 suffered smoke inhalation; nasal airway burns; first degree burns on his entire face and neck; second degree burns to lips, left cheek and left side of neck. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Keywords: BURN, FIREFIGHTER, FIRE, RESPIRATORY TRACT, SMOKE, NECK, FACE, SMOKE INHALATION