Inspection Detail

Inspection: 316209139 - California Department Of Corrections

Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:23 a.m. on August 18, 2012, Employee #1 was found unresponsive during their wake up time at a sleeping area. The employee had been working on 24-hour shift rotation while fighting fires between the evening of August 14 through the morning of August 17, 2012. The employees had one-day rest in between the 24-hour periods at the Buck Fire in Hemet area. On August 17, 2012, the Medical Emergency Response Team was called to treat the employee for heat-related illness. The following morning the employee was found unresponsive. A coworker called Medical Emergency Response, and he was transported to Hemet Valley Medical Center Emergency. Employee #1 was later transferred to Desert Regional Medical Center for advanced care. The employee died of a heat-related illness in the hospital the following day August 19, 2012.

Keywords: FIREFIGHTER, HEAT, SLEEPING QUARTERS, HEAT EXHAUSTION