Ten Wildland firefighters hurt in Central Oregon crash

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Ten Wildland firefighters hurt in Central Oregon crash

10 Lava River Forestry firefighters heading to a small blaze in Central Oregon were injured Tuesday when the driver of their van fell asleep and their vehicle crashed into an oncoming semi-truck.

The wildland firefighters all work for Lava River Forestry, out of Salem, according to The Oregon Department of Forestry. They were on their way to the Briley Mountain Fire near Monument in Grant County.

Why: Investigators said the crash happened on a curve west of Prineville about 2:15 a.m.

Police cited the van diver, 35-year-old Jeremy Miesner, on a count of failure to drive within a lane. Investigators think he fell asleep at the wheel.

Forestry firefighters Crew Buggy after collision

Who: 9 injured firefighters were treated at area hospitals and released. They were identified as Christopher Reed, 29, of Sheridan; Rogelia Saimc, 22, of Salem; Jesus Medera, 38, of Independence; Pedro Ramos, 37, of Salem; Manuel Abriz, 40, of Salem; Jovita Romero, 36, of Woodburn; Jose Salas, 20, of Salem, and Jerson Mendoza, 33, of Salem. One of the firefighters, Marcelino Romero, 39, was in critical condition after getting airlifted to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. The truck driver, Scott Ramage, 48, of Washington and his one passenger were not injured.

California Fire News 2012

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2012