Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313514028 - Ca Dept Of Forestry & Fire Protection

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on August 22, 2011, an employee and 16 inmate crew members performed Firefighting training exercises at the Devore area consisting of hiking and cutting fire lines while carrying hiking fire pack ware under the supervision of Chino Prado Camp Fire Caption, a trained first responder Paramedics - FC1. The crew completed the training at about 1:15 p.m. and they began hiking back when a call was received for a vegetation fire in the area. The crew took a quick lunch break and each member replenished water and Gatorade. After that, the crew proceeded and arrived in the fire area at about 2:30 p.m. They began cutting fire lines, and the employee was leading the crew in cutting the vegetation with a chain saw. At about 5:30 p.m., the employee told FC1 that his hands were starting to cramp. FC1 moved the employee from the front of the line to the back and he began just walking with them. After a while, the employee started feeling discomfort experiencing nauseated and began vomiting. FC1 evaluated the employee's condition and contacted the command center to make arrangements for his transportation. The employee was taken by a 4 by 4 wheel drive vehicle from the rugged terrain to the CA Correction Medical facility, Chino, CA for evaluation and treatment. Then, the employee was sent to Montclair Hospital Medical Center for further treatment. The employee was discharged from hospital on August 25, 2011. The employee had been working as a full time inmate fire fighter since October 2010 at Chino Camp. The employer was a State Government Agency.

Keywords: FIREFIGHTER, HEAT, FIRE, HEAT EXHAUSTION