Wildfires fraught with danger

Rapid City (S.D.) Journal: A recent report that found no human fault in the death of wildland firefighter Trampus Haskvitz in last August’s Coal Canyon Fire is of some comfort for Haskvitz’ family. Haskvitz was leading a three-man crew that became trapped by flame when their engine stalled trying to escape in a narrow canyon.

The report is a reminder of how dangerous fighting unpredictable wildfires can be.

According to the report by the South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire Suppression, the Aug. 11, 2011, fire was started by a lightning strike and was only one acre in size when it was first reported. Haskvitz, Austin Whitney and Kevin Fees were among the first firefighters to respond to the fire near Edgemont, but the fire quickly increased in size and intensity and winds fanned the flames toward fire crews.

When the order came to try to escape from the canyon they were in, the fire overtook their engine, in which Haskvitz and Fees became trapped. Whitney, who was behind the engine, was badly burned but survived, and Fees was able to get out of the engine cab and run through the flames. Haskvitz died almost instantly when superheated gasses and flames overwhelmed him before he could escape, according to the report.

Haskvitz, 23, was only the sixth South Dakota firefighter to die in a wildfire since records have been kept beginning in 1910, but he is the fourth to be killed since 2000, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Firefighter safety should be a concern.