Forest Fire Deaths Bring Back Storm King Memories
One Of Worst Wildland Firefighting Disasters In U.S. History
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. -- The deaths of four firefighters while battling a forest fire in Washington State on Tuesday occurred seven years, almost to the day, after 14 firefighters died fighting a wildfire near Glenwood Springs, Colo.
The circumstances seem strikingly similar.
On July 6, 1994, 14 wildland firefighters lost their lives when a wind shift resulted in a "blow-up" fire condition that trapped them on the uphill and downwind position from a fire on Storm King Mountain, just outside Glenwood Springs.
The fourteen firefighters included smokejumpers Don Mackey, Roger Roth, and James Thrash; Prineville Hot Shots John Kelso, Kathi Beck, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Tami Bickett, Doug Dunbar, and Terri Hagen; and helitack crew members Richard Tyler and Robert Browning.
Browning and Tyler died when their escape route was cut off by a large drop and they were overrun by the approaching fire.
The other firefighters were killed as they ran towards the ridgeline to escape the fire advancing from below.
According to eyewitness accounts, the firefighters were unable to see how dangerous their position had become because of a small ridge below them. They had been moving slowly and were still carrying their equipment as the fire blew up behind them to a height of over 100 feet.
At this point, the crew dropped their tools and made an uphill dash for the top of the mountain but only one person made it over to survive. The fire overran the remaining 12 firefighters and reportedly reached a height of 200 to 300 feet as it crossed over the ridge. It was estimated to be moving at between 10 and 20 miles per hour at the time of the blow-up.
Several other firefighters in various other locations on the mountain became trapped by the flames but were able to make it to safe positions or deploy their emergency shelters.
A year after the fire, a special firefighter's memorial was dedicated to the victims in Two Rivers Park which sits in the shadow Storm King Mountain. A special memorial trail also winds its way up Storm King Mountain, with crosses placed where the 14 firefighters died.
The fourteen firefighters included smokejumpers Don Mackey, Roger Roth, and James Thrash; Prineville Hot Shots John Kelso, Kathi Beck, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Tami Bickett, Doug Dunbar, and Terri Hagen; and helitack crew members Richard Tyler and Robert Browning.
Browning and Tyler died when their escape route was cut off by a large drop and they were overrun by the approaching fire.
The other firefighters were killed as they ran towards the ridgeline to escape the fire advancing from below.
According to eyewitness accounts, the firefighters were unable to see how dangerous their position had become because of a small ridge below them. They had been moving slowly and were still carrying their equipment as the fire blew up behind them to a height of over 100 feet.
At this point, the crew dropped their tools and made an uphill dash for the top of the mountain but only one person made it over to survive. The fire overran the remaining 12 firefighters and reportedly reached a height of 200 to 300 feet as it crossed over the ridge. It was estimated to be moving at between 10 and 20 miles per hour at the time of the blow-up.
Several other firefighters in various other locations on the mountain became trapped by the flames but were able to make it to safe positions or deploy their emergency shelters.
A year after the fire, a special firefighter's memorial was dedicated to the victims in Two Rivers Park which sits in the shadow Storm King Mountain. A special memorial trail also winds its way up Storm King Mountain, with crosses placed where the 14 firefighters died.
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Additional Resources:- July 11, 2001: Deadly Washington Fire Blamed On Campfire
- July 11, 2001: Washington Wildfire Kills Four Firefighters
- Storm King Executive Summary
- Storm King Fire Report
- Final Storm King Report
- Storm King Fire Memorial Trail
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