Safety Info: Hazard Tree Incident Willamette NF

Very Close Call
Hazard Tree Incident Willamette NF
This is on the Kitson Fire, on the Willamette National Forest. It happened about 4:30 PM on September 26, 2008.
Original Willamette NF Danger Tree photo at wildlandfire.com - Link.

From: Wildlandfire.com "They said" reader posting
JMD
Just passing along a sobering reminder about how quickly and how badly (could have been alot worse) being in the wrong place at the wrong time on a wildfire can be. Ray H poses atop what's left of his vehicle after a fire weakened Douglas Fir broke off and fell onto the road where he and another firefighter had just parked to check out some of the fire. They heard the tree crack as they stepped out and ran hard to get away. This was truly a close call. Another vehicle had pulled away from this spot a few seconds before.

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Hazard Tree Indicators

• Numerous down trees.
• Leaning trees.
• Dead or broken tops and / or limbs hanging in the trees.
• Absences of needles, bark, or limbs.
• Possible of rot indicated by conks, broken tops, basal scars, cat faces, numerous down limbs, ants, abundance of woodpecker holes.
• Stump holes burning in the area.
• Smoke or fire burning in the base or tops of either dead or live trees may indicate rot and / or weakening of tree.
  

Watch Out Situations

1. Snags are falling or have fallen in work area.
2. The area is occupied by trees that are susceptible to rot, especially white fir and old oak trees.
3. Working or taking a break in a hazard area.
4. Working in a hazard tree area for more than a few minutes.
5. Working in hazard tree area during windy or potentially windy situations.
6. Working in an area with trees that have been burning for an extended period.
7. Tailgate safety session did not include discussion of snags.
8. Lookouts are not posted or do not have communications in a hazard tree area.
9. Becoming complacent in a hazard tree area.
10. Too many snags for posted lookouts to keep track of.
11. Tree within fire will fall over control line.
12. Escape routes pall through hazard tree area.
13. Safety Zones exposed to hazard trees.
14. Parking in hazard tree area.
15. Crew fatigued from being on shift for an extended period.
16. Working around heavy equipment or tree felling operation in a hazard tree area.
17. Unable to see top of trees.
18. Steep slope with hazard trees above you.
19. Nighttime work in area not scouted in daylight.
    

Safety Guidelines

• Assess snag hazards before parking, taking breaks, or sleeping.
• Make sure that employees wear personal protective gear at all times.
• Use every day examples to brief and train employees about what snag hazards look like.
• Consider suspending operations during windy periods.
• Allow adequate time for scouting.
• Identify; tree species common to work area especially those that are more susceptible to heart rot, root rot, or shallow roots.
• Scout for hazard trees and visibly mark or flag individual and groups of snags that are in or near work areas.
• Post lookouts in areas of known or potential snag hazards.
• When possible, use work tactics which avoid or minimize employees exposure to snag hazards.
• All crewmembers have the responsibility to speak out when confronted by snag hazards.
• Discuss and plan escape route and safety zone considering vegetation and terrain.
• Assess the height of treetops when planning safety zone and escape routes.
• Fire Safety Zones must be free of hazard tree threat.
• Use extra caution when down hill of hazard trees. It is more common for trees and debris to go down hill.
• When escaping the path of a falling tree, do not turn your back- Watch the tree as you move out of its way to ensure you can see any change in its fall or roll caused by contact, breakage, etc.
• Use extra precaution during night operations.
• Determine if the benefit is worth the risk.
  

SNAG SAFETY

S ize up snag hazards in work area.
N ever become complacent.
A lways look up.
G et weather reports.

S cout out parking, sleeping, work areas, and safety zones.
A dvise co-workers of known hazards.
F ace your hazard and take appropriate action.
E xamine work area for other hazards.
T ake extra caution around heavy equipment.
Y ou are ultimately responsible for your own safety.