Rocky Mountain Research Station Publications
RMRS Online Publication
RMRS-RP-9: Fire behavior associated with the 1994 South Canyon
Fire on Storm King Mountain, Colorado
Butler, Bret W.; Bartlette, Roberta A.; Bradshaw, Larry S.; Cohen, Jack D.; Andrews, Patricia L.; Putnam, Ted; Mangan, Richard J. 1998. Fire behavior associated with the 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm King Mountain, Colorado. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-9. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 82 p.
In the aftermath of the deaths of 14 firefighters during the South Canyon Fire in July 1994, fire scientists assessed what occurred and suggested guidelines that may help firefighters avert such a tragedy in the future. This report describes the fuel, weather, and topographical factors that caused the transition from a relatively slow-spreading, low-intensity surface fire to a high-intensity, fast-spreading fire burning through the entire fuel complex, surface to crown. The analysis includes a detailed chronology of fire and firefighter movements, changes in the environmental factors affecting the fire behavior, and crew travel rates and fire spread rates. Eight discussion points apply directly to firefighter safety.
Keywords: wildland fire, rate of spread, fireline intensity, fire fighting, safety, accidents, fire size, firefighter travel rates.
About PDFs: For best results, do not open the PDF in your Web browser. Right-click on the PDF link to download the PDF file directly to your computer. Click here for more PDF help or order a printed copy of this publication.
Download RMRS-RP-9
http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp009.pdf
PDF File Size: 4.1 MBHTML Version: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp009/index.html
Report of the South Canyon Fire Accident Investigation Team (goes to an external site):
http://www.coloradofirecamp.com/south-canyon-fire/pdf-links.htm
Title: RMRS-RP-9:
Fire behavior associated with the 1994 South Canyon Fire on Storm
King Mountain, Colorado
Publish Date: December 13, 1999
Last Update: March
20, 2007