BLUE SHEET - Bulldozer Rollover Fatality

BLUE SHEET PRELIMINARY SUMMARY REPORT
San Benito Monterey Unit
Bulldozer Rollover Fatality
October 8, 2007
Colorado Incident CA-BEU-004103 Accident Incident CA-BEU-004112 Accident Review Incident CA-CSR-000098

This Preliminary Summary Report is intended as an aid in accident prevention, and to provide factual information from the first 24 hours of the accident review. To that end it is published and distributed within a short time frame. Information contained within may be subject to revision as further investigation is conducted, and other reports and documents are received.

Synopsis
Two CAL FIRE BEU bulldozers were constructing line on steep slope. One of the bulldozers rolled down the slope and the operator was fatally injured.

Narrative
A structure fire was reported at 12:42 P.M. on Monday, October 8, 2007, along Palo Colorado Canyon Road off of Highway 1 about 11 miles south of Carmel, CA. The San Benito/Monterey Unit ECC dispatched a full wildland response to the incident because of the ruggedness of the area and proximity of the structure to the brush covered terrain. The fire did transition to the wildland and grew to over 40 acres.

A CAL FIRE BEU bulldozer (Dozer #1) was working with a second CAL FIRE BEU bulldozer (Dozer #2) at constructing line downhill along a flank of a fire. Dozer #2 became immovable and Dozer #1 was working below it to assist Dozer #2 in continuing with their assignment. At about 4:30 P.M., Dozer #1 plunged over 150 feet down the slope, rolling several times, coming to rest at the bottom of a canyon.

The Heavy Fire Equipment Operator was extricated from the bulldozer and airlifted to a trauma center where he succumbed to his injuries at 8:55 A.M. on Tuesday, October 9, 2007.

Recommendations For Immediate Corrective Actions Firefighters should review the special hazards of working in steep terrain. Firefighters need to have an understanding of operations on different soil types.

Source: CDF Firefighters Org