2006 — Oct 26, Wildfire, Esperanza fire traps USFS firefighters, San Jacinto Mts. So. CA-5

— 5  Badger, Stephen G. Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires for 2006. NFPA, Sep 2007, p. 22.

— 5  Seattle Times. “Firefighter deaths: a wildfire timeline.” 8-19-2015.

— 5  USFA/FEMA. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2007. July 2007, p. 10.

 

Narrative Information

 

Badger: “Incendiary fire. The five firefighters were attempting to protect a home in the Esperanza wildfire. A rapid spread of the fire trapped the firefighters, who had no time to retreat to the fire engine or use their portable fire shelters. Three of the firefighters died at the scene, one died en route to the hospital, and the fifth died five days later….

 

“Weather and seasonally dry vegetation with extreme wind conditions produced extreme fire behavior conditions and a rapid rate of spread. A rapid spread of the fire trapped the firefighters. The fire burned over 40,200 acres (16,268.4 hectares) and destroyed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings. Twelve firefighters were also injured….Santa Ana wind conditions with gusts up to 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour). Relative humidity was between 5 percent and 10 percent.” (Badger, Stephen. Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires for 2006. NFPA, Sep 2007, 22.)

 

Seattle Times: “Oct. 26, 2006: Five U.S. Forest Service firefighters are killed in the Esperanza fire in Southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. The fire burns 40,200 acres and destroys 54 buildings, including 34 houses.” (Seattle Times. “Firefighter deaths: a wildfire timeline.” 8-19-2015.)

 

USFA/FEMA: “On October 26th, five California wildland firefighters were killed when their structural defense position was overcome by rapidly advancing flames. Three firefighters were killed at the scene, one firefighter died enroute to the hospital, and one firefighter died 5 days after the event.” (USFA. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2007. July 2007, p. 10.)

 

Sources

 

Badger, Stephen G. Catastrophic Multiple-Death Fires for 2006 (NFPA No. MDS06). Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division, Sep 2007. Accessed 7-8-2013: http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/research/nfpa%20reports/overall%20fire%20statistics/catastrophic2006.ashx

 

Seattle Times. “Firefighter deaths: a wildfire timeline.” 8-19-2015. Accessed 9-6-2015 at: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/firefighter-deaths-a-wildfire-timeline/

 

United States Fire Administration/FEMA. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2007. Emmitsburg, MD: USFA/FEMA, July 2007, 111 pages. Accessed 9-6-2015 at: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/ff_fat06.pdf