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Apply on-line now for Colorado Firecamp's upcoming S-212 Wildland Fire Chain Saws classes:
Cost: $750 includes tuition, books, meals & lodging.What to Bring to ClassJob Hazard Analysis (JHA)MTDC Chain Saw TrainingFelling Boss TrainingLittle Grass Valley Tree Felling Accident FLA — August, 2009Freeman Reservoir tree felling fatality, 72-hour report & OSHA citation — June, 2009Storm Mountain Ranch tree felling accident, OSHA citation — May, 2009Andrew Palmer Fatality, Dutch Creek Incident, — June, 2008
Volusia County Tree Felling Fatality —
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Freeman Reservoir FatalityUnited States Department of the Interior 72 Hour Expanded Report June 29, 2009 To: Assistant Director, Fire and Aviation Subject: Expanded (72 Hour) Report, Freeman Reservoir Fatality THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE LOCATION: Freeman Reservoir Recreation Area, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest DATE OF OCCURRENCE: June 26, 2009 TIME OF OCCURRENCE: Approximately 1630 TEAM LEADER: Sue Richardson, BLM ACTIVITY: Chainsaw Training NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 NUMBER OF FATALITIES: 1 PROPERTY DAMAGE: None NAME OF FATALITY VICTIM: Brett Stearns NARRATIVE: On June 26, 2009, Bureau of Land Management engine crews from Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit were conducting a chainsaw training field exercise. The field exercise was at the Freeman Reservoir Campground on the Hahns Peak/Bear Ear Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. The crews were divided into four separate saw training teams working in four different areas around the campground. At approximately 1630 hours, one of the teams, consisting of one instructor and two trainees, were felling a large dead aspen tree. When the tree began to fall, it got hung up in between two other aspen trees. In the process of freeing the tree, it broke in half and the top portion fell backwards and struck the sawyer. The sawyer, Brett Stearns, was killed. He was an engine captain for the BLM, stationed at the Little Snake Field Office in Craig, Colorado. Action Taken to Date: On June 27, 2009, a national Serious Accident Investigation Team (SAIT), with interagency representation, was assembled at the Little Snake Field Office in Craig, Colorado. On June 28, 2009, the SAIT conducted an agency administrator’s in-brief with the Little Snake Field Office. After the in-brief, members of the SAIT were briefed by the local sheriff, who is investigating the accident. Members of the SAIT traveled to the accident scene and were briefed by a saw team member who was at the site shortly after the accident. Two SAIT technical experts remained at the site until late afternoon. Interviews with the crew members, who have been on administrative leave for two days, and preparation for an OSHA representative visit are being scheduled. The SAIT out-brief with the local unit is tentatively scheduled for late afternoon Thursday, July 2, 2009. /s/ Sue Richardson cc: United States Department of the Interior 24 Hour Preliminary Report June 27, 2009 To: Designated Agency Safety and Health Official (DASHO) Subject: Preliminary (24 Hour) Report THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE LOCATION: Freeman Reservoir, Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests DATE OF OCCURRENCE: June 26, 2009 TIME OF OCCURRENCE: Approximately 1630 TEAM LEADER: Sue Richardson, BLM ACTIVITY: Chainsaw Training NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 NUMBER OF FATALITIES: 1 PROPERTY DAMAGE: None NARRATIVE: On June 26, 2009 Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit’s local Bureau of Land Management fire crews where having a chainsaw training field exercise at Freeman Reservoir on the Hahns Peak/Bears Ear Ranger District of the Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests. At approximately 1630, during the tree felling exercise, one fire fighter was killed. The deceased fire fighter is a Bureau of Land Management employee. On June 27, 2009 a national serious accident investigation team, with interagency representation, is being assembled at the Little Snake Field Office in Craig, Colorado. /s/Jim Douglas, Assistant Director, Fire and Aviation cc:
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| For Immediate Release Saturday, June 27, 2009 |
Contacts: |
Lynn Barclay, BLM, 970-826-5096 David Boyd, BLM, 970-319-4130 Steve Segin, RMACC, 303-445-4322 |
CRAIG, Colo.— A Bureau of Land Management firefighter was killed yesterday in an accident working a hazard-tree removal project.
Brett Stearns, 29, of Craig, Colo., was killed during a hazard tree abatement project at Freeman Reservoir, 15 miles northeast of Craig. The accident is currently under investigation.
Stearns was working on the project with about 12 other BLM firefighters when he was struck by a falling tree at approximately 4:30 p.m. Friday. He was pronounced dead on-scene.
Stearns was an engine captain and had worked in the fire program for the BLM Little Snake Field Office in Craig since 1999. He is survived by his wife, mother, father, one brother, and half sister.
Little Snake Field Manager John Husband said, "On behalf of the Little Snake Field Office and the Northwest Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Brett Stearns. He dedicated his life to protecting the lives and property of the public. Firefighting is a dangerous profession and firefighter safety is the number one priority on fires and projects such as this. A detailed investigation is being conducted by a federal accident investigation team."
-BLM-
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