Beaver Fire

[@jonclay8629]

That dozer operator's mental toughness saved their lives, as well as the leadership

[@OFD271]

I was a line medic on this fire to the Division North of this incident @ SPIKE/DP46. This was the scariest radio traffic I have ever heard, and being mobilized to the division break for a pre stage in case of major injuries puckered me like no other. The video didn't cover the fact that thunderstorms had moved through earlier in the day, and in fact were influential in this fire. The fire had similar behavior in the days previous around the same time. I'll tell you what witnessing a sustained downhill crown run is the most impressive behavior I have seen in my years. By gods grace and through good training all are safe, and god bless. This area was a mix of industry land and NF. The industry HEQ operators had a burnover also the first or second day of this fire. It was a nightly show for the first few days of this fire as the behavior made consistent runs during the days previous.

[@Sxlientz]

I witnessed a downhill run, the mile wide headfirst moving almost a mile in seconds. I was on an outlook and our team barely made it out ahead of it. It went on to build a firestorm and whipe out a small town. Fire is to be respected for sure. Thanks for what you do!

[@PeaceLoveandMolotovs]

I cant stop watching these

[@AmeribornNewsTV]

That dozer really saved their lives. The last few passes the dozer made, dug the middle lower and made it possible to get cooler air and allow air flow to pass over them, instead of into them.

[@commiehunter733]

Yup

[@johngalt3139]

Hats off to those guys. They're the definition of 'real men'.

[@itzdilpickle3679]

What we want everyone to be

[@alanhelton]

Tommy’s shelter wasn’t going to take much more… Glad you are all here with us.

[@markpoe619]

These are some real good guys. All they were worried about was each other. Great job guys!

[@johannesswillery7855]

Fantastic documentary. I have a new understanding of the seriousness of this business.

[@Konabish]

As a career firefighter including wildland I see this as not only essential for firefighters, but priceless to show non-firefighters what it's like when caught by fire and having to deploy fire shelters. These men are incredibly good at relating what happened and how they handled it.

[@brandonvos4361]

"oh hell this is nothin!" Hats off to you guys thank God you survived

[@MrFinallythere]

" Oh Hell, this is nothing." Who would say such a thing in the face of extreme peril ? One very brave Man !

[@cassandrahowell8055]

"Sorry I got you into this kid." "Aw hell this is nothing.....wooo...damn.'..he says while backing up. Kudos to Tommy for the video because I've never seen video from an area with a crown fire of this magnitude totally surrounding it. The area seemed big enough to me until it was surrounded. Admire the balls on these folks and have nothing but mad respect for all who do this extremely important and dangerous job...Congress should apprrove higher wages and more benefits...but the assholes probably won't until it directly affects them....if then!

[@scottfrench3354]

I know you posted this a year ago. But I completely agree. These men are way under paid. Not a single one should earn less than $75 an hour or more. With full benefits for them and there families. I would have no problem with my taxes going to these types of programs. And god forbid if something happens to one of them when they are on the line there wife’s or husbands and children should be set up for the rest of there life’s

[@alan4309]

oh you're right, their wages have not kept up with inflation at all. It's sad. We can give billions away to other countries and corporations, and yet hard working men and women on the ground at USFS or US BLM, etc. get paid fairly but not well.

[@iansteel6403]

I'm surprised they can stand, let alone speak. I'm quivering in my chair watching this footage. I can't believe they're this calm when they know they're about to wrap themselves in tin foil and pray their preparation was enough. I've seen a house fire plume maybe 40 feet tops, so the world burning 12 stories would probably reduce me to a puddle of anxious goo.

[@bdmbpm1467]

I think George was a volunteer. Not sure about the younger guy.

[@MrFinallythere]

Well said Scott! I agree 100%. Pay these men !!!!@@scottfrench3354

[@JamesExploresHorror]

Those flame lengths are so insane! My anxiety was through the roof watching this! So much respect to those out there fighting these beasts!

[@bdmbpm1467]

Tom saved the lives of the other two. He is a hero. Had he not been their the space may have been to small and they may have deployed their shelters to lste. Regarding the fire shelters they should make every person fighting a fire practice a few times unfolding the shelters right before they go to work on the fire line.

[@Cognitoman]

They do except they give you used ones where the tabs are already pulled, the problem is when you have a new one it’s hard to pull the tabs

[@lambing50]

I just went through fire shelter training 2 days ago This is a great video to reinforce that training.

[@jgraham441]

These men are real heroes, the celebrities you see Hollywood are not.

[@christineboydstrongtower]

You are right!! Our HERO’S deserve making their income though‼️

[@cindymacdonald8655]

These men are incredibly brave, heroes. So happy it was a good outcome. I couldn’t imagine the terror being in that situation. Firefighters and true heroes. ❤️🙏

[@601salsa]

Glad these guys made it out alive. Big massive Thank you to the fire fighters and teams who risk their lives to protect us. Stay safe, keep training, be smart, believe in yourselves and come home. I am not a firefighter but because of you have applied to join a SAR team as a volunteer, as my way of paying it forward. Thankyou

[@flytwin1772]

Very good telling from the guys how to behave when you are inside the furnace, don´t panic at any time. Guess that is quite hard.

[@stevegraydon6351]

Thank you. I vote this video becomes the required fire shelter training video. Many things to learn and extremely well articulated by Tom and the other gentlemen.

[@itzdilpickle3679]

The only reason they're alive is because they could stay calm in a literal life and death situation. Amazing heroism

[@Immortal_BP]

wow i did not even know about fire shelters, those things are amazing to let them live and actually be comfortable inside such a huge fire!

[@energyexecs]

Thank you for your service to the community. I worked for the US Forest Service in my youth - always respected the training provided and required by our leaders. Thank you.

[@ebutuoyssa]

The wisest statement of all " Your trainings' got to be your core". Thanks- I'll keep strong focus on that and will bump it down the line.

[@amyhammer7227]

Thank you for reflecting on your experiences through this fire. Powerful.

[@MrFinallythere]

Amazing story. Your training certainly saved your lives. You said: " I never knew anyone who survived in a shelter." Well Sir, you do now ;)

[@arvos21]

Awwww Tommy, "Heck this is nothing." The youth of American could learn some things from that young man.

[@bdmbpm1467]

His parents raised him well.

[@pearlobrien2274]

Thank you for posting your video . Greatful you and your swamper are okay. brings back memories . I always trusted my operator. He was always calm , so I remained calm. Happy trails.

[@christianschuring8883]

I really want to hear stories from all three of them, I mean this is so interesting! This could have been tragic but thank god things turned out the way they did, great learning experience.

[@brandonroach9456]

I was on a type 2 crew at this fire, i remembered hearing this on my squad bosses radio. That fire was screaming that day, its crazy that 7 years later I'm watching this.

[@SaintNarcissa]

Thank you for your service 🥰 do you still fight fires?

[@mickjoebills]

Thanks for the time and effort for all involved to present this valuable lesson.

[@danielcartwright6545]

Tom was a good fireman, had fun wrking with him on the El Dorado- He is a risk taker but we always made it out safely- I got my USFS faller certification from Tom, we ran a crew for three years together and It would be fun to see him again, he's one heck of a good drummer too! EDNF E522- 523- knb 662

[@watchthe1369]

Awesome pictures and footage, now there is a yardstick for everyone, when you deploy.

[@OrbitalJeffo]

Not sure why this was in my recommendations, but it was really interesting. Thanks for all you do!

[@bradleycross9935]

I love these videos.

[@lolitagrant6751]

Bradley Cross me too. So glad these men made it!

[@chuckhorne4931]

I am so happy you guys ate enjoying these videos. Each fire has its own life and personality and the people out there are all heros as far as I'm concerned.

[@michaelm6395]

Very powerful story, thank you all for sharing.

[@cmcer1995]

This was an incredible story, scary, terrifying, but hearing how they survived due to their shelters was impressive. Like they said trusting your equipment and remaining calm is what saved their lives. When talking about a sustained downhill crown was what I believed happened in the Waldo Canyon Fire outside of Colorado Springs in June 2012. A microburst led to that fire racing down the mountain side and into Mountain Shadows housing area, but luckily no firefighters were on that side. Watching that fire come over the ridge above that housing area and race downhill into those homes was terrifying. In total I think around 364 homes were lost. I will never look at Forest Fire Fighting the same.

[@chrisingram5251]

Well done! I often wondered if their would be alittle more insight and especially a Lessons Learned about this event ever since i saw the first dramatic footage from this burnover alittle over two years ago. It is amazing to see just how effective great training and extinct guided these three men through what could have been a far worse incident. Thank you for sharing!

[@raymondfrye5017]

Using Instinct to avoid becoming Extinct. 1000°F everywhere.

[@BanjoZZZ]

One of the most important lessons is seeing that the vehicle survived. Vehicles survived at Camp 16/Station fire, Mudd fire, 30 mile fire. We need to understand how much heat vehicles can take so we understand when they might be a better option than a shelter.

[@FeatherHorseforge]

We don’t have shelters we just have radiant heat Sheilds that roll down the inside of all vehicle windows I’m from Tasmania Australia.

[@bdmbpm1467]

I would think that inside the vehicle would have been even hotter and the oxygen levels not enough to sustain life.

[@BanjoZZZ]

@@bdmbpm1467 the interior of a vehicle gives you protection from radiant heat and convective heat. Outside of a vehicle your skin will burn in seconds. There is enough oxygen to last 30 min +.

[@slackjawedyokel1]

@@BanjoZZZ the plastic starts outgassing inside the newer vehicles

[@commiehunter733]

You must stay low to the ground where it's cooler, just a few feet above the surface the temp increases 100's of degrees.... Digging that hole was their best option

[@victor-th4qs]

Not many old time PNW people left. Have the cowboy twang. My friend. Fellow timber cruiser. Eastern Oregon. He had a twang like that.

[@williamcap2236]

I gotta tell you at 12:19 that wall of flame coming at them ! I think besides these firefighters being brave they have A FEW SCREWS LOOSE ! Heck with those green pants i propose a new color BROWN ! 😆

[@Quadflash]

Powerful video. Good, solid advice for anybody who works the line.

[@kittygonzalez2827]

By far, the most amazing video I have seen ......🆘🔥❤️😇🙏🏽

[@patrickshearer856]

Brave men and heroes all the way!!!!

[@froey198033]

Tommy saying this is nothing with all that fire around them after the other Tom said I'm sorry I got you into this kid has a serious pair on him. Glad they all survived.

[@christineboydstrongtower]

These guys are ANGELS from above‼️

[@ogmiossoimgo696]

thank you for your service

[@billsmith5166]

Thanks you three, great job!

[@Aw-ns1qx]

We NEED to supply our fire fighters with more funding. They deserve it.

[@AMYV3]

Thank you. For being you ❤️❤️🇨🇦

[@happinesshotel5375]

I’m sorry I got you into this kid. Tommy: ah this is nothing…DANG….Wooooooo I can’t imagine what that feeling would feel like.

[@alan4309]

Braver than I. God bless you good men.

[@jamesstreet228]

"Ah hell this is nothin." Not the least bit worried or afraid. The heart of a warrior.

[@Aw-ns1qx]

Everyone was amazing. What heros. What a horrific as hell situation. I can't imagine.

[@paulsmallriver6066]

Men who look to be ordinary who are far from being ordinary.

[@christineboydstrongtower]

I’ll say it..EXTRAORDINARY ‼️‼️🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@marioschatzigiagkos4447]

The size of these flames is unbielievable !!!!

[@captaindoeverything]

their balls were bigger

[@AbbyTheAbinator]

When things need to get done. The fewest words are king. No questions just trust in your comrades

[@williammriggles9754]

Trust your shelter! Don't wait to deploy!

[@moemcgovern7345]

One of my friends lost everything in the Paradise Fire. They at least saved their 4 cats. Their house still isn't built.

[@bdmbpm1467]

Every person living in wildfire areas needs to watch this. It makes it perfectly clear that if you don't evacuate you won't survive the fire. Even if you have defensible space.

[@peggysmith5202]

WOW. 3 lucky guys!!!

[@pfrstreetgang7511]

California does one thing really well 100% of the time.....trains completely reliable fire fighters who always communicate everything you have to know in 5 seconds or less.

[@chrysalis72]

God bless these guys

[@Bobbyd0052]

AMAZING JOB BROTHERS ! GOD IS GREAT !🇺🇲

[@geoff2911]

You know or even possibly after you got your area cleared out to take that Dozer blade and make a big berm she have like a3/4 foot spot in between and then perm it up around you so that you have your sensually inside with a perm all the way around you, I don't know these are things that I would be thinking about if I had heavy equipment in a situation like this other than just clearing out a spot

[@genegustafson1665]

Angels were around you all

[@robertfroh1355]

11:26 real hard feelings right there but he did the best with what they had.

[@haloharley15]

Is the Tony Petrilli in the credits the same Tony Petrilli from the South Canyon fire?

[@mcfuryan2448]

I wonder if them fire resistance shelter bags are any different then wrapping a potato with aluminum foil and placing it inside a hot oven.

[@froginthewaves8450]

Wow, thanks for sharing!

[@greatestever184]

Tommy, Your massive balls are what shielded you all from the fire. "aw hail thisiz nuhthin! Wooo ouch"

[@bdmbpm1467]

I wonder if they had built burrows into the land so that they laid lower than grou d level of that would have helped with the heat and air quality.

[@christineboydstrongtower]

Real ‘’TRUE GRIT’’✨🌟✨🌟✨✨🌟✨🌟❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@samsaruhhh]

i'm just someone with no knowledge so don't take this question the wrong way, but i was curious why wouldn't the dozer try to dig a trench or make walls of dirt for them to hide in?

[@christianschuring8883]

I’m the same person with no knowledge but I don’t think that would have worked if you look at 16:00 the flame heights are so high and the fire completely envelops the area behind them shortly after that 16:00 mark I personally don’t think a wall or trench would have been enough to save them, as much space as you can get that is either black (burned over already so it won’t burn again) or completely clear of debris to separate you from the flame front will save you from the fire. Older Tom talks about burning out around them but decides not to because it could at that point turn the intensity of the fire up prematurely, he was attempting to creat that “black” around them to create more space. Again I am not trained but from what I gather if you are in that situation space is key.

[@geraldmyers3660]

Fire behavior course needed 😌

[@tishherbert6403]

Just incredable!!#

[@conspiraciesarejustgreatst2059]

I still dont understand why they don't use the dozers to push the dirt into a berm at their mid forest safety zones. It would make a big difference at keeping the heat at Bay. You can even dig a whole a couple of feet deep so of they need to deploy, they can stay in a hold to keep the heat further away.

[@krowand8260]

Question on having the dozer and deploying the shelters - what impact would having scraped a trench have had on the shelters, then deploying in the trench? It seems direct radiant heat would be reduced, but would winds change or noxious gasses be concentrated?

[@pearlobrien2274]

K Rowand I wondered this as well.

[@johnjacob442]

There is a video on here for teaching that the dozer would dig a trench as wide as the dozer for twenty feet the the dozer would park in it and the guys would craw under it

[@masoneversole821]

I think that trenches and stuff create a wind tunnel type scenario and funnels superheated air and gas to the men and the shelter can’t survive those temperatures

[@rocksandoil2241]

hot gases generally rise but in a wind storm of fire, it is like a tornado sucking from the ground up

[@bdmbpm1467]

Good question regarding the gasses. I made a simar comment.

[@eyeconspiracy]

Why didn't they just get out of there in the 1st place?

[@mrrecluse7286]

Most intense deployment

[@arklinmike]

I'm no forester, or hotshot, but could they use a feller/buncher to create line?

[@whatwillbem6825]

Wow!! Talk about bad asses!

[@geoff2911]

I'm wondering in that situation if you had it like a backhoe to there to dig a big old ditch big big narrow ditch that you could you know like 8 feet deep it would fit these guys and then they could possibly stick the Dozer blade over it leaving in a few weeks they had to get out of the ditch that could it seems if you're eight feet in the whole even if that fire rush over them they would be pretty well-protected

[@perpetuallymediocre]

Ditch might collapse

[@masoneversole821]

I live in Arkansas too I wonder what area he was in I’m in northwest Arkansas

[@rocksandoil2241]

Waurika is in S central Oklahoma

[@davidmorris3102]

Around the Mena area I believe.

[@mhenhawke5093]

I've heard of a bush fire ,but a beaver fire?

[@joshr7781]

Great video! I was wondering, would it be possible to do an airlift? Like could they send a helicopter in and lower a basket for the guys? Because it took the strike team 3 hrs to get in, and the fire seemed to have died down enough that the rising heat wouldn't be to much. There a reason this can't be done? Just curious

[@WildfirelessonsNet]

Smoke in the area was likely a prohibitive environmental condition.

[@JPF941]

Josh, I'd venture the air assets were on other assignments and given the location the winds would have prohibitive even after the burn over. The smoke column would also have been impactful. Finally why do that? 3 hours is not excessive considering the nature of the area after the burn over, there were no serious injury and the team was stable. Using an air asset would have been overkill in my opinion, and unwarranted.

[@TWEAKLET]

forest fires this big produce tons of wind which makes operating a helicopter close to the ground dangerous

[@HOODCHRYMER]

@@TWEAKLETAlso the height of those flames are when it comes to forest fires are extremely high.

[@mrbane8721]

With 15 minutes to prepare a deployment site, I would deduct that would have been sufficient time to evacuate all personnel from all danger zones.

[@yolobathsalts]

You would be wrong with that deduction.

[@primemover1930]

The plow could have dug a decent hole for them to shelter. Hindsight 20/20

[@kdevus]

Opening music sounds like it's from the movie "The Wraith"...

[@mcfuryan2448]

In such towns closed in like that and fires coming to destroy everything makes me wonder why not build a underground bunker with a long tunnel and call for the whole town to get down into the Bunker, the homes will be destroyed but not their lives will at least be saved.

[@woeuntousall2611]

5:36 5 o'clock is not 1500 hours

[@aviationhobbies5260]

He said 1700 hours

[@joshr7781]

Some of these guys are not from California; heck, I don't even think they're from the West. Do they get deployed in different states?

[@WildfirelessonsNet]

Josh Rimer Wildland firefighters frequently mobilize all across the country, including places like Alaska.

[@joshr7781]

WildlandFireLLC Ah ok. So can they like live wherever they want until deployment?

[@WildfirelessonsNet]

Josh Rimer Most have a home unit/department, and work associated with that affiliation. During times of need, firefighters get mobilized from their home unit/department to wherever the fire/incident is. Usually folks return home after 14-21 days for time off. Frequently they'll remobilize quickly after days off.

[@joshr7781]

WildlandFireLLC ok, do you know if that's the norm for like aerial firefighters as well?

[@WildfirelessonsNet]

Folks who staff federal agency helicopters (known as Exclusive Use) are tied to a home unit. Contract pilots and support staff (mechanics, fuel truck drivers, etc) can come from dispersed locations across the country, but even these folks tend to have a home base of sorts-usually where the contract vendor is based.

[@jormakoskinen2957]

The most confusing thing in the situations I have seen in these videos is that any of the crew doesn't have breathing apparatuses, not even gas masks to prevent them inhaling superheated gases. They have bulldozers and sandy terrain, but they are not making heat barriers nor protective trenches. There are alot of heavy transport vehicles, but none of them having heat protective cabin for crew. Have not seen any forest harvesters working in these areas for quick clearing of combustable material. Just can't understand why they let these brave men die in vain.

[@rocksandoil2241]

When you have to run, a tank and apparatus is too much weight. Perhaps some make have air in a vehicle but when on the ground no such weight will help. Deploying a shelter is a rare event.

[@johnlipps5966]

A lot of the contract dozers are open cabbed, to where mine( Fed) is a environmental cab with drop curtains. Storm King Mountain Technologies makes the curtains for any style dozer, if any was wondering where you get them..

[@LazyGrouse23]

Scary

[@scottdore8391]

I've dough wildfires but thank god we never had to deploy shelters wild land ff need to make what so entertainers n sports players make these really are all stars

[@601salsa]

Do they actually train you guys with wind to simulate the 50mile an hour wind gusts when deploying your shelters..... how about simulating smoke and heat so firefighters actually have a hint about what it is going to be like for themselves? And do wildland firefighters actually have a checklist to remember when they have deployed to keep their minds occupied to prevent their instincts taking over and possibly getting them killed should they leave their shelters too early eg Like dig a breathing hole, check in with the others in their shelters every minute, try and make a joke something

[@slackjawedyokel1]

I set up a ppv fan when I trained guys --most dont

[@orangeofficer528]

BEKKFAST!

[@SMOKE-r8h]

DAMN!!

[@chrysalis72]

This is terrifying but my coping device is to laugh, so when i saw beaver fire i was thinking Michael jackson (hair on fire), in the pubic region. Lol

[@AMYV3]

It seems like the only reasonable solution to these fires is to build black zones I think they are called. A ring of sorts of non burn material rocks etc around the towns If you live outside towns. Making sure you too have that black area around your property 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@ericphan5857]

Why spend hundred billion dollars raise an army when a few lighters cost 5 dollars does same damage