Little Venus Fire (Wyoming) – July 18, 2006

This Day in History is a brief summary of a powerful learning opportunity and is not intended to second guess or be judgmental of decisions and actions. Put yourself in the following situation as if you do not know the outcome. What are the conditions? What are you thinking? What are YOU doing?

Background

On June 19, 2006, the Little Venus Fire began as a naturally ignited wildland fire on the Shoshone National Forest. The fire was managed for resource benefits under a wildland fire use strategy. Fire behavior and growth responded to the ebb and flow of weather over the first month, but around the middle of July, fire activity steadily increased. On July 17 at 1730, the Unaweep Fire Use Module (FUM) arrived at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in Cody, WY. Unaweep consisted of four regular crewmembers and six long-term and short-term detailers. They received an initial briefing and secured supplies to support remote fire operations in the Washakie Wilderness. During the in-briefing, the module leader was advised that radio communications had been a persistent problem on the incident. Operations believed they would have two portable repeaters fully functional on the incident by July 19 and Unaweep had a satellite phone. July 19 was Unaweep’s planned first operational assignment on the Little Venus Fire. On July 18, the work assignment for Unaweep was to hike eight miles from the Jack Creek Trailhead to the Venus Cabin to replace the Black Hills FUM. Two local, contracted packers would transport food and red bags from Jack Creek trailhead to Little Venus cabin on the morning of July 18.

Fuels

Conifer timber stands with severe bark beetle infestations – approximately 50% stand mortality.  

Weather

RED FLAG CONDITIONS. The spot weather forecast predicted: Maximum Temperature:  76­82°, Minimum Humidity:  8­14% , 20 Foot Winds:  SW 15-20, gusts to 35, shifting to NW at 1400 hrs, Ridge Top Winds:  SW 20­25. The Incident Action Plan (IAP) weather forecast also had 20-foot winds: 15, gusts to 30 out of the W. The fire behavior forecast in the IAP under­predicted a significant increase in fire behavior.

Topography

Major canyon, steep slopes with numerous side drainages. Greybull River drainage runs SSW to NNE.

Image

Outcome

As Unaweep hikes into Venus Cabin, a sharp wind shift fans a fast-moving crown fire with long-range spotting that outpaces the crew’s escape. All ten Unaweep crewmembers experienced a burn over and deployed their shelters at the Greybull River confluence with Anderson Creek.  All personnel survived with no significant injuries and no hospitalization; all were safely evacuated from the fire area.

Discussion Questions:

• Is hiking into a fire an operational assignment? 
• How do we safely engage wildfires in dead or dying fuel types or drought stressed fuel types?
• How do we adapt operational tactics based upon a forecasted wind shift? 
• What are some techniques to deal with poor VHF repeater coverage for an incident?
• Use of detailers or “fills” on fire resources is even more common today with recruitment and retention challenges. How will you build crew cohesion and trust with crewmembers that are new to your crew’s operational tempo?