Esperanza Fire
Accident Investigation
Factual Report
Cover & Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Narrative
Maps
Photographs
Timeline
Investigation Process Summary
Human Findings
Causal Factors and Contributing Factors
Appendix 1 — Fire
Behavior Analysis Summary
Appendix 2 — Fire Operations Analysis Summary
Appendix 3 — LCES Analysis Summary
Appendix 4 — Standards for Fire Operations Analysis Summary
Appendix 5 — Compliance Analysis Summary
Appendix 6 — Fire Weather Analysis Summary
Appendix 7 — Human
Factors Analysis Checklist Summary
Appendix 8 — Personal Protective Equipment Analysis Summary
Appendix 9 — Equipment Engine 57 Analysis Summary
Appendix 10 — Video Documentation Listing
Appendix 11 — Glossary and Acronyms
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Esperanza Fire
Accident Investigation
Factual Report
Riverside County, California
October 26, 2006 |
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Timeline
The development of an accurate timeline requires a multiple of sources
including: dispatch logs; radio transmission voiceprints; individual
statements; and interviews. In some situations, time estimations were
necessary because personal observations and radio transmissions were
made without a time record/reference or source time references conflicted.
When a specific time could not be determined, a best estimate of time
was provided. Events that occurred some time between established time
references are indicated by asterisks (*).
October 26, 2006 – All times are listed
as Pacific Daylight Time
1:11 a.m.
- Vegetation fire reported in the vicinity of Elm Street
and Bonita Avenue in Cabazon, California
1:18 a.m.
- Initial Attack Incident Commander (Riverside County Medic
Engine 24) provides initial size-up and estimates fire at two acres
located on the hillside
1:24 a.m.
-
CAL FIRE Battalion Chief estimates the fire at 10 acres
with a rapid rate of spread and possibly burning into the San Bernardino
National Forest (BDF) land
-
Request for five single resource Type III engines sent
to BDF as an immediate need
1:32 a.m.
-
CAL FIRE Battalion Chief 3113 assumes Incident Commander
(IC) role
-
Fire is spotting 500 feet ahead of itself
-
Five acre spot is reported
1:43 a.m.
- BDF dispatch requests Forest Service Fire Engines 51,
52, 54, 56, and 57 to respond to the fire
1:44 a.m.
- Fire is estimated at 75 acres with a rapid rate of spread
4:00 a.m.
- Evacuation of Twin Pines area ordered by Esperanza Incident
Commander
4:02 a.m.
-
Forest Service Engines 51, 52, 54, 56 and 57 arrive at
the Incident Command Post (ICP) in Cabazon
-
Initial briefing takes place at ICP
(Witness Statements # 11.6;
12.4; 13.1; and 16)
4:18 a.m.
- Forest Service Engines 51, 52, 54, 56, and 57 are en
route to the staging area at Twin Pines Road and Highway 243
(Witness
Statements #11.6; 12.4; 13.1; and 16)
4:19 a.m.
-
Engine 51 reports new fire start along Interstate 10
and is diverted to suppress the fire
-
Engines 52, 54, 56, and 57 continue traveling to the
staging area at the junction of Twin Pines Road and Highway 243
-
* Residents are evacuating Twin Pines area. The road is congested
with vehicles and motor homes
4:50 a.m.
- Engines 52, 54, 56 and 57 arrive at the staging area
and are assigned to drive down on Wonderview Road to triage and assist
with evacuations
5:15 a.m.
-
Engines 52 and 57 begin traveling down Wonderview Road
(Witness Statement # U12.4)
-
* Engines 54 and 56 are loading up and programming radios. They
are advised by the Structure Protection Group Supervisor (CAL FIRE
Battalion Chief 3114) to wait on Twin Pines Road for March Air Force
Base - Brush 10 Fire Engine (MB-10)
(Witness Statements #13.1 and
16)
5:30 a.m.
-
Engine 52 turns into the driveway at 16600 Wonderview
Road and encounters a resident who refuses to leave. Engine 52 remains
to assist in evacuation.
-
* Engine 57 then continues to alone travel down Wonderview
Road and stopped at a house under construction at the junction
of 49550 Venison Road (Tile House). Engine 57 Captain sized-up
the Tile House and the rest of Venison Road then turned around
and continued traveling down Wonderview Road. He then radioed
Engine 52 Captain and advised that the Tile House had “room enough for two engines,” and
that he would continue on down and look for other buildings.
(Witness
Statement #12.4)
5:40 a.m.
- Engines 54, 56, and MB-10 leave the staging area
to travel down Wonderview Road. The road is cut off by the fire,
so the engines turn around and drive back up to Twin Pines Road.
(Witness Statements
#11.6, 13.1, and 15.1)
5:44 a.m.
- Branch II arrives at Engine 52’s
location and directs Engine 52 to remain in place until the resident
at 16600 Wonderview Road is evacuated
5:53 a.m.
- Engines 54, 56, and MB-10 meet with Engine 51 on Twin
Pines Road and begin traveling down Gorgonio View Road together
(Witness
Statements #13.1, 15.1, and 16)
6:00 a.m.
- *Engine 57 arrives at 15400 Gorgonio View Road (Octagon House)
(Witness Statement #12.4)
6:15 a.m. – 6:20 a.m.
-
Engines 51, 54, 56, and MB-10 continue down Gorgonio
View Road and can see the main fire
(Witness Statements #11.6; 13.1;
15.1; and 16)
-
Branch II meets with Engines 51, 54, 56, and MB-10
6:20 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.
-
Branch II meets with Engine 57 Captain at the Octagon
House
(Witness Statement #U-6)
-
*Engines 51, 54, 56 and MB-10 arrive at 15975 Gorgonio View
Drive (Doublewide) and begin structure protection measures and
prepare for a burnout operation to create a safety zone
(Witness Statement
#U11.6)
6:30 a.m.
- Branch II stops back at the Doublewide on his way back
up to Twin Pines Road and informs Engines 51, 54, 56, and MB-10
of Engine 57’s location
(Witness Statements #U-6 and U-11.6)
6:45 a.m.
-
Branch II meets with Twin Pines Structure Protection
Group Supervisor on Twin Pines Road to discuss plan
-
* Engine 52 Captain contacts Engine 56 Captain via radio on
a Forest Service tactical radio frequency not assigned to the
fire and advises that the fire is “boiling up at the bottom
down below”
(Witness
Statement # U12.4 and 16)
-
* Engine 57 Captain contacts Engine 51 Captain and recommends
they “begin
firing now”
(Witness Statements #U11.6 and U-19)
-
*Engines 51, 54, 56, and MB-10 implement burnout just prior
to fire front hitting
7:00 a.m.
- Intense holding action of burnout operation with spotting
from the fire
7:04 a.m.
- Air Attack arrives over the fire
7:57 a.m.
-
Engine 51 and 52 Captains access the driveway of the
Octagon House and they find one seriously burned firefighter
(Witness
Statement # U-16)
-
Engine 52 Captain contacts BDF and reports the burnover
incident. He informs Federal Interagency Communications Center
(FICC) that there are two firefighters with severe injuries and
three firefighters are missing
-
Incident Commander (Division Chief 3106) hears notification
of burn victims through the Forest Net Radio channel [a station
radio system already in place at the Cabazon Fire Station]
(Witness Statement
#U-7)
7:58 a.m.
- Engine 52 Captain requests two ambulances
7:59 a.m.
- Engine 52 Captain increases request to four ambulances
8:00 a.m.
- Two surviving victims receive initial medical treatment
from the on-scene firefighters
(Witness Statement #U-11.6)
8:22 a.m.
- CAL FIRE Helicopter 301 lands at the accident site and
the first burned firefighter is loaded and transported to the Arrowhead
Regional Burn Center
(Witness Statement #U-8)
8:35 a.m.
- CAL FIRE Helicopter 305 transports the second burned
firefighter to the Arrowhead Regional Burn Center
(Witness Statement
#U-8)
9:09 a.m.
- CAL FIRE Helicopter 301 lands at Arrowhead Regional Burn
Center
(Witness Statement #U-18)
7:09 p.m.
- The bodies of the three deceased firefighters are removed
from the accident site
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