3 - Was the June 26,1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the incomplete lessons learned on June 30, 2013?

Authors: Douglas Fir, Joy A Collura, and other contributing authors

Views expressed to "the public at large” and "of public concern"

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Figure 1. June 26, 1990, early afternoon Dude Fire showing increasing, aggressive crown fire at the head of Walk Moore Canyon, taken from Bonita Creek Estates looking Westerly Source: NWCG.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it. Thucydides (Athenian historian and General).

In "Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" We closed the post with the "(Not for Public Release, FS Custodian of Accident Report) Accident Investigation Report," and the Dude Fire Incident Multiple Firefighter Fatality June 26, 1990, Southwestern Region, Tonto National Forest Figure 4. Narrative - page 3 from that post, in the copy of the larger scope "INVESTIGATION - A. Narrative B. Findings C. Causal Factors" report I found the additional (missing) Narrative page that was excluded as a page in the Dude Fire Accident Report. Here it is:

Figure 1a. Dude Fire Fatalities Page 4 (Narrative - The Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Record Files

Figure 2. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation Page 7 (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Note midway (above) at: "(c) Equipment (6) Clothing degradation of four of the deceased indicates they were caught in a flame front prior to fully deploying [fire] shelters." (emphasis added) In the very near future, more will be further revealed with photographs of heavily scorched WF fire shirts from the waist up, to be located in the Part 5 Precursor post.

These fire weather warnings regarding wildland firefighting during thunderstorm activity and the associated winds continue to surface, and so they are worth heeding. These two were listed within Figure 2. (above). "d. Weather, June 26, 1990 - (5) A few sprinkles of rain occurred in the fire area around 1310-1315" and this warning was once included in Watch Out #15 regarding the winds. "(7) A definite calm occurred a few minutes before the blow-up" and "(9) A strong blast of wind preceded the fire front." (all emphasis added) We need to reinstate the calm or winds stop warning back into Watch Out #15 once again because it was a causal fire weather factor in both June 1990 and June 2013. In fact, this fire weather causal factor warning was instrumental in saving the lives of a "Hybrid" Engine Task Force in The Shrine area on June 30, 2013.

The sudden calm and the word "calm" in reference to the winds "prior to" the intense outflow downdraft winds is critical. It has somehow been discounted and forgotten by NWCG and many supervisors. It is, rarely, if ever mentioned in on-going required trainings and annual refreshers.

Figure 2a (left). Archive image of Watch Out Situation Number 15 - "YOU notice wind CHANGE!" poster Source: Wildfire Today

Wildfire Today Bill Gabbert posted this archive image on March 27, 2009, and stated: "The image above is the 10th one we have posted. It is similar to Situation #15 on the present day list of 18." (emphasis added)

I contend that it is "similar" only in the sense that it refers to the wind. Back in the day (1970s), I (DF) recall being taught that it included the wind stopping.

I (DF) recall U.S. AUSA Johns (RiP) asking me what the USFS policy was on firing operations during thunderstorms. My answer was that there is no such policy. So then, it defaults to our best professional discretion and judgement under the circumstances at the time.

For what follows now in order for the missing pages debacle to make sense, please consider the content from Part 2, Figure 10. page 11: "Just minutes after returning to work at about 1415 to 1420 hours, a Navajo crewmember yelled 'Get Out.' All of the Navajo and Perryville crewmembers realizing that the fire was blowing up, immediately began running down Walk Moore Canyon toward the Control Road. Part way down, 11 members of the Perryville Crew ... begin the remainder of this sentence that follows in Figure 3. Page 12 (below) "were cut off when the fire crossed the dozer line they turned around and began running back up the Canyon with orders to deploy their shelters." (emphasis added)

Please allow yourself the time to read the excerpts below regarding the progression of the Perryville Crew burnover, fire shelter deployments, injuries, and deaths that ensued. It will assist trying to make some sense of the Perryville Equipment Locations map in Part 2 in Figure 21. Be forewarned, many of these Perryville Crew experiences and recollections are quite emotional and may be considered by some to be disturbing or offensive.

Every word of God proves pure; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30.5 (KJV)

Figure 3. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation Page 12- Sequence of Events (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

This Figure 3. (above) document (p. 12) contains some details on the fire behavior, the Perryville Crew attempts to escape, several fire shelter deployment specifics, some specific fatalities mentioned, and eventual escape to safety for several onto the Control Road.

Figure 4. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation Page 19 appears to be a Witness contact List continued (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

As you progress down through the many informative WF MOIs and Witness Statements please pay heed to the unique Mogollon Rim thermal belt and high nighttime temperature fire weather phenomena influences of the increasingly aggressive to extreme exponential fire behavior that were witnessed and experienced throughout the June 25-27, 1990, Dude Fire. Watch Out #4 for those non-local WFs and FFs. (Robert Bates - 1962 - "A Key to Blow-up Conditions in the Southwest?" (See Fire Mgmt. Today, 63, Fall; The article is reprinted from Fire Control Notes 23(4) [Fall 1962]: 95–99) ( https://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/wfldp/docs/sr-dude-blowup.pdf)

Figure 5. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation Page 21 Witness Statement Cover Page (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

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What follows are the beginning of a series of Memorandum of Interviews (MOI). These are generally the result of an investigator interviewing a witness and then transcribing the details. The interviewee is supposed to be allowed to review their MOI for accuracy, sign it if accurate or else make any correction(s), then initial, and date them. The ethical investigator should then include those in the SAIR.

Unfortunately, there have been several cases of nefarious deeds by unethical investigators that had an unprincipled or devious agenda, (i.e. conclusion first, then facts to support it). The corrupt investigators would then submit as evidence those original MOIs that were false or inaccurate instead to support their disreputable agenda, rather than the one(s) corrected by the interviewee. This is criminal!

Consider now (Figure 6 - below) the Safety Officer Hall Ashcroft MOI that starts right out of the gate out with these remarkable observations, conclusions, and statements: "Went in to Bonito (sic) [Creek Estates] Monday night. ... several Engines with no communications in a potential death trap because they were located in a brush field. ... Tied in with [two] dozers which had came (sic) in without supervision. ... felt uneasy about putting in the dozer line. ... " (emphasis added)

Figure 6. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. Memorandum of Interview (MOI) Safety Officer Hall Ashcraft One page - (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor ...?" Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 6. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Two pages 2 - Fire Weather IMET Robert Berkovitz (the Incident Management Missing page from"Part 2 - Was the June 26,1990, Dude Fire a precursor ...?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 6a. NWS Forecaster Robert Berkovitz reflects back on June 26-27, 1990. He correctly noted the nighttime June 27, 1990, Mogollon Rim Thermal Belt induced fire behavior - "The fire was spreading rather fast through the night, even though upper winds over the fire were rather light." Source: NWS Berkovitz, Joy's Records Files

NWS IMET Berkovitz validated what I (DF) and others witnessed right through the night and early morning hours of June 26-27, 1990, as the fire raged across the Mogollon Rim (The Rim), from West to East above Bonita Creek toward Horton Creek. On June 27, 1990, it would threaten the Haught Cabin, while untended-to embers in eaves, vents, and wood shingled areas, etc. would burn the Zane Grey Cabin from the top, down. The advancing fire front would also imminently threaten the Tonto Creek Fire Hatchery.

According to our trusted stand-by Wikipedia, The Rim extends approximately 200 miles, starting in northern Yavapai County and running Eastward, ending near the border with New Mexico. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona.

Consider now a brief NWCG, S-190 refresher on Thermal Belts and see Figure 6b. (below): "Nighttime inversions in mountainous regions increase in depth during the night. They form early in the evening at the canyon bottom or valley floor and at first are quite shallow. The cold layer gradually deepens, with the nighttime inversion coming in contact with and reaching farther up the slope below the main ridges. The warmest nighttime air temperatures in valleys are often found at the inversion top. The height of the warmest air temperature, at the top of the inversion, can be found by measuring temperature along the slope. From the top of the inversion, temperature decreases as one goes farther up or down the slope. This region of warmer air, typically found on the middle third of the slope, is called the THERMAL BELT. The thermal belt is characterized by the highest minimum temperature and the lowest nighttime relative humidity. Within the thermal belt, wildland fires can remain rather active throughout the night. Below the thermal belt, fires are in cool, humid, and stable air." (emphasis added)

Figure 6b. Thermal belt idealized image Snippet. Thermal belts usually occur in the middle third of slopes with warmer temperatures and lower relative humidities giving rise to more active nighttime fire behavior.The entire Mogollon Rim is a thermal belt. Source: Thomson Higher Education

Figure 6c. (below) June 25-26, 1990, nighttime fire behavior. Source: USA Today

Now consider this from the bottom of OPS Cooke's MOI in Figure 7 (below): "PRD DFMO Pat [Velasco] was providing intelligence for future suppression actions. ... A Strike Team of Type I Engines was protecting the structures. [DIVS] Whitney was to stay with the structure protection and burnout operations. ... Walked down toward Walk Moore Canyon ... and Velasco was walking up from the Control Road. Met with [Velasco] part of the way down." (emphasis added) You're kidding me, right? Velasco providing suppression intelligence? This is definitely both contradictory and incongruous.

Figure 7. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation MOI Page 3 OPS Dick Cooke (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

In OPS Cooke's MOI (Figure 8. below) he was apparently observant in some situations while lacking in others, like situational awareness when he noted: "At 1315-1330 ... no burnout was taking place. ... [the] fire was backing down across the canyon about 1/3 [of] the way from the top. ... Heard a radio conversation that the fire had crossed the Control Road on the West side. Arrive at the Control Road with Velasco about 2:15 [PM]. ... Was not aware of Air Attack (fixed wing) activity over the fire. ... Was not aware of any storm activity. ... [Cooke] believed he was never clearly transitioned responsibilities from VanTillborg. Had a very short time to interact with the Type II Team and consequently the transition did not go smoothly. However, didn't believe it caused the accident. ... Worst fire behavior in over 20 years of fire experience." (emphasis added) The improper transition may not have caused the event, however, it was definitely a primary causal factor, enough so that it should be included, and definitely addressed at Stand One of the Dude Fire Staff Ride and / or Site Visit. The out-of-place "accident" comment is addressed below and should also be addressed on site.

Pay heed to the short interaction time with the Type II Team members during the classic Southwestern Region, mid-day, high activity time, as well as his unsmooth transition comment. As stated above, the lack of interaction time definitely did not alone cause the "accident" but it was most assuredly a causal factor. And what about the similar "it was an accident ... one of those things that happens" comment made by PFD Wildland BC Willis during the July 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire - GMHS Deployment / Fatality Site News Conference?

By definition - accident is defined as - "an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury" or it is "an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause." It is a widely accepted and known fact that wildland firefighter burnovers, entrapments, fire shelter deployments, and fatalities are definitely NOT accidents.

Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name. Psalm 86:11 (KJV)

Figure 8. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 4- OPS Dick Cooke - page two of his account (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

What follows are several mostly illegible handwritten pages of copies of OPS Cook's top-spiral notebook - you will readily notice that a lot of his writing is very difficult to read, and very difficult to decipher. They generally concern the Bonita Creek and Walk Moore Canyon fire behavior, the Perryville Burnovers, Deployments, and eventual fatalities. Therefore, the readers are on their own here on these public records.

Figure 9. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. Dick Cooke June 26, 1990, MOI supplement - Chronology spiral notebook copies Page 5- OPS Dick Cooke - page three of his account, chronology top-spiral notebook copies (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26,1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 10. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation MOI supplement - top-spiral notebook Page 6- OPS Dick Cooke - page four of his account, chronology II (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26,1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 11. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation MOI supplement - top-spiral handwritten notes Page 7- OPS Dick Cooke - page five of his account, chronology II (the Incident Management Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

The MOIs of the Perryville Crew and / or those directly associated with them, are very limited to Crewmembers Davenport, Hoke, Harder, Smith, Love, Crew Boss Terra, and CREP LaTour. Surprisingly, Hatch was never interviewed. We believe that all of them should have been interviewed. What were the reason(s) they were not interviewed?

Consider now Perryville Crewmember William (Bill) Davenport's MOI in Figures 12. and 12a. (below):

'Perryville was mixed in with the Navajo Crew. One of the Navajo Crew yelled “Get Out.” All of the [Perryville] Crew started down the dozer line. Got cut off by flame coming across the line. Turned around and started running back up the dozer line. Love and LaTour were the only ones ahead. LaTour directed to deploy fire shelters as they were running. Took backpack off and took out his shelter.'

'Lost his glasses and Harley Davidson headband after the deployment. Deployed next to Love. Deployed down the hill from the H2O Jerry cans. Communicated with others … under the shelters. LaTour was directly behind. After the flame front hit I heard someone scream “I can’t take it anymore.” Davenport then screamed from fear. Was in fire shelter for about ½ hour. A branch dropped on his shelter and burned his legs. Burn on arms was from touching …’

So much for the CREP LaTour being a viable lookout for his Perryville Crew if you have to rely on another Crew running through yours warning you to "get out."

Figure 12. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation MOI Page 8 - WF William Davenport Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Consider now Part 2 of Perryville Crewmember William (Bill) Davenport's MO (paraphrasing, uncertainty, and quotes) in Figure 12a. below: '… the side of the shelter. … during the deployment … radio (??) … but could not transmit (??) out of his shelter followed by Love and LaTour down the canyon. Came up (??) on Bachman. Chacon on Denny and then Contreras. Took their shelters with them. Met up with Hoke who was still in his shelter. Next met Ellis who was burned. First thing he said was that he was dead. He had his shelter around his forehead. Left all their shelters at the road. '

"Hat, goggles and glasses fell off when they came out of their shelters."

Figure 12a. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation MOI Page 8 - WF William Davenport Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Please note in Figure 13. (below) that OPS Dundas stated: "There was a problem with the transition of the Division Sups because only [two] came out to the fire rather than three. The strategy was to burn out around Bonita [Estates]. ... the East side and the bottom. These were the critical [firing operation] areas. ... Slopovers were occurring from the start without a Southerly wind. Hot firing [operation] but successful. ... Flew the fire about 1300 ... winds were beginning to blow downslope, influenced by a thunderstorm." (emphasis added)

OPS Dundas - "the eyes in the sky" - observed all these crucial fire weather and fire behavior events, however, I (DF) do not recall him ever transmitting any of this to the WFs on the firelines. He may very well have done so, however, I don't recall any of these critical details being transmitted over the radio on Air-to-Ground or any of the TAC channels.

Figure 13. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 9- OPS Glen Dundas - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

"Pulled the Crews back from the firing operations on the West side at about 1315-1330, because of the fire behavior. ... various issues and problems with air resources ... At 1345 instructed [OPS VanTilborg] that the Control Road was no longer defensible as the fire had crossed it. [OPS VanTilborg] drove down to check it and determined the road was not passable. ... Remained frustrated because one of the Type I DIV Sups (Bead) had [NOT] come out to the fire to transition." (emphasis added) I (DF) recall hearing a lot of this radio traffic on the Command and TAC channels. I believe DIVS was lost, several canyons off to the East.

Figure 14. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 10- OPS Glen Dundas page 2 - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 15. Dude Fire Fatalities MOI Page 11- FBAN Alan Farnsworth - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

FBAN Farnsworth stated: "Everyone knew there were thunderstorms in the area' so he did not feel it was necessary to call the line with the information." (emphasis added) I (DF) was unaware of any thunderstorms overhead or in the area.

Figure 16. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation MOI Page 12- DIVS Bernal Gatewood - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 17. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 13 - Fire Weather Forecaster IMET Craig Ellis - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Sources from Joy's Records Files

Consider now the MOI from DIVS Phil Gil who was in charge of the Bonita Creek Estates Firing Operation in Figure 18. (below):, "as the Firing Boss. Began backfiring at 1100. ... Div Sup Whitney ... joined them about 10 to 1100. Zig Zag Crew was doing the firing. ... Had difficulty holding the line all morning. Lost a spot earlier which they planned to line with a dozer later in the day. ... They (Hot Shot Crews ??) left to return to camp at 2:00 to 2:15. ... When they tried to leave the [Bonita Creek] Subdivision they (HS Crews ??) found, to their surprise that it was surrounded by fire. They returned and had two dozers build a Safety Zone in the black. [OPS] Dundas had sounded some alarm about 2:00 in reporting the fire had crossed the Control Road which was supposed to be the last resort." (emphasis added)

Was DIVS Gil one of the two aggressive DIVS mentioned by Plumas HS Supt. Swartzlander that was pressuring them to burn and ignore spot fires until later?

How are you surprised about being surrounded by fire when you claimed that they had "lookouts posted all day?"

Figure 17. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 14- DIVS Phil Gill - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Consider the following noteworthy observations and comments from DIVS-FIRB Phil Gil in Figure 18. (below): "Communications problems existed because of too many people on the same freq. Had off & on contact and poor communications with the Air Attack. Thought the Division ended at about Drop Point 1."

"Thought the transition did not go smoothly and that transitioning during the hot burning period was asking for it." Of course, the transition did not go smoothly because the Type 2 Team refused to relinquish full control after being blind-sided by the Forest Fire Staff the previous night, that he had already ordered a Type 1 Team while they were being in-briefed, and the Type 1 Team would take over the fire between 1200-1300 on June 26, 1990. They were pissed off!

"Knew they had a dangerous fire and was not surprised when it blew, but was surprised at the intensity. Everyone was in Safety Zones in plenty of time. Lookouts had been posted all day." (all emphasis added) Interesting comment about realizing how dangerous conditions were yet surprised at the fire intensity. That surprised just about everyone except for maybe some of the Hot Shot Crews and misc. Overhead. As far as "everyone getting into Safety Zones in plenty of time,' I would say that it is an understatement. There was certainly less than optimal timing for the Navajo Scouts and most of the Perryville Crew that had to run for their lives to make it to safety, and not necessarily a true Safety Zone. And there were those less fortunate WFs that certainly ran OUT OF TIME for those ultimately burned over, deployed, and where some died.

I question the "Lookouts had been posted all day" as a general, inclusive statement because of what transpired. Reading the Perryville MOIs indicates that they had no real clue what was happening until it was too late for those that died and almost too late for many others that deployed fire shelters. And the Navajo Scouts MOI reveals that their Lookouts noticed the wind change and fire behavior increase and quick decision to disengage and escape.

As stated elsewhere on this blog, we WFs always practiced the concept of LCES without realizing that is what we were doing, as indicated with all four prongs identified within DIVS - Firing Boss Gil's MOI. The lookouts prong is both nebulous and equivocal.

Figure 18. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 15 - DIVS Phil Gill page two - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30 ,2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Figure 19. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI (part 1 of 3) Page 16-Zig Zag HS Supt. Paul Gleason (RiP) - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Sources from Joy's Records Files

What follows is Zig Zag HS Crew Boss Paul Gleason's (RiP) MOI summary with some paraphrasing where needed. Quoted text will be within red quotes (" ").

Gleason observed high level cumulus clouds from the Fire Camp and while hiking up Walk Moore Canyon. He arrived at the base of Walk Moore Canyon about 1000. "They were generating heat and smoke from the firing operation." There was a little precipitation, thought there might be a thunderhead. Within "15-30 minutes later there were downdrafts. They started breathing smoke from the burnout. Erratic winds. They tried to stay even with the main fire. They were to burn a section, then hand it off. Heard that the fire crossed the Control Road 2. There was a deployment. 3. The fire crossed Walk Moore Canyon."

Mr. Wilson’s paper, Fatal and Near-Fatal Forest Fires: The Common Denominators, was published in 1977 in The International Fire Chief.

It was also posted in Wildfire Today: Gabbert, B. (Feb. 1, 2016) Are there 4 or 5 common denominators of fire behavior on fatal fires? Wildfire Today.

Figure 19a. Carl Wilson's (1977) Fatal and Near-Fatal Forest Fires:The Common Denominators snippets - Conclusion. Source: Intl. Fire Chief, 43

Often, human behavior is the determining factor. And so, as it should be, the final responsibility in Entrapment Avoidance is up to those individual WFs and FFs and their Supervisors to provide for the safety and welfare of themselves and those they are answerable to and accountable for.

And from a Canadian perspective, see: Beaver A.K. (2001) Evaluating risk and reward relationships in wildland firefighter safety. Proceedings of the 5th International Fire Safety Summit. International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF). Missoula, MT. ( https://gfmc.online/wp-content/uploads/3-IWFC-008-Beaver.pdf )

Figure 20. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI (part 2 of 3) Page 17- Zig Zag HS Supt. Paul Gleason page two - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Paraphrasing and quoting (" ") Zig Zag Crew Boss Gleason's MOI. Zig Zag HS was part of a firing operation from Figure 20. (above) "in the vicinity of the Bonita Creek Subdivision with Flathead, Alpine, and Redmond IHCs; his Crew had hiked up Walk Moore Canyon from the Control Road, and passed the Perryville and Navajo [Scouts] #2 Crews who were widening line. About 1345-1400, some light precipitation fell on the fire site, and a thunder cell was observed in the area."

"Roughly 1/2 hour later the radio reports indicated that the fire had crossed the 'Control Road,' the fireline, and there had been a shelter deployment. The Zig Zag IHC and Flathead IHC headed S.W. toward the area, and passed the Alpine IHC heading up the fireline toward the Safety Zone. "The fire was making cross-slope runs from West to East in the crowns at 80 feet / minute. A person (Greg Hatch) came walking up the dozer line, with no hardhat, fire shelter, or tool. His back pack was smoking as was his hair (?) Gleason called on the radio for EMTs, and they came from the Zig Zag, Flathead and Alpine IHCs; the Paramedics

in [the] Engine S.T. #1 also responded. Gleason sent the remainder of his IHC with the Flathead IHC to the Safety Zone because of the immediate fire danger."

"- next page -"

This statement indicates to us the extreme HRV fire behavior that was occurring at the time: "The fire was making cross-slope runs from West to East in the crowns ... ." See Figures 20a. and 20b. below.

There were numerous HRV "needle set" photos from Walk Moore Canyon after the fire similar to those in Figure 20b. However, once the investigation began and after the SAIR came out, these disappeared from the Ranger District Office.

Figure 20b.(right) Needle set from HRV hot gases preceding extreme fire behavior. Source: Cedar Fire SAIR, WLF LLC

Figure 20a. (above) Idealized image

of Horizontal Roll Vortices (HRV) fire

behavior. Source: USFS Finney et al

From the 2001 Thirty Mile Fire SAIT Prologue: "The conifers’ small branches are frozen in time, needles intact, as they twisted away from the blast of the fire, ... ." (emphasis added) p. i

I (DF) recall hearing a lot of that fire shelter deployment radio traffic on TAC and Command during that time regarding Perryville WF Hatch.

What follows is the top third of Gleason's MOI in Figure. 21 (below):

"Walked down with [Flathead Crew Boss] Paul Lindsey (sic). The Alpine Crew was running up the line. "

"Fire was spreading about 80 ft / min, mostly in the crowns. It was not an independent crown fire. It burned in little strips. Not a wall of flame. Spreading cross-slope. There were downdrafts. Walk Moore is a V-shaped valley. There would be cross-slope radiation and tremendous heat release."

"The thunderhead would keep the heat down. Felt there was no effect on the main fire by the burnout. There were strong convective currents. It was a wind-driven fire."

Gleason's comment that he "Felt there was no effect on the main fire by the burnout" is interesting because it actually contradicts his proximate concerns, within a few days, that he felt that it was their firing operation that may have been responsible for Perryville's burnover. In addition, how can a burnout operation of that magnitude fail to have an effect on the main fire?

The remaining one-third (1/3) of Zig Zag Crew Boss Gleason's MOI is below the Figure 21. caption.

Figure 21. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 18- Zig Zag HS Supt. Paul Gleason page three - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Continuation of Zig Zag Crew Boss Gleason's MOI (lower third - 1/3): "Burnout was 150-200 ft. (??) strips perpendicular to the cat line. Green patch was left due to the burnout ... runs 300-400 ft. strips ... 1/2 hr after deployment ... lots of smoke on South of (??) looked like a wind-driven fire." The "green patch" Gleason refers to is the one next to The Corner House in Bonita Creek Estates. Of note, over the years, several Hot Shots that were there that day, when they participate in a Staff Ride or Site Visit many years later are always amazed that a 'green patch' is there based on the intense firing operation they had all witnessed on June 26, 1990.

Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior. Karl von Clausewitz

Based on empirical research and hands-on experience, in order to lessen the seemingly enduring number of wildland firefighter fatalities while improving on our Entrapment Avoidance knowledge, we must rely on those with "experience." As they say - it still takes ten years to get ten year's of experience. However, there are far too many 90-day wonder Wildland Firefighters and Firefighters that get advanced into leadership roles by the "good ol' boy' method, sycophants adopting the 'Go Along To Get Along' attitude, nepotism, hypocrisy (failure to lead by example), prematurely, want-to-be-everyone's-friend, the Federal Government's 'feel good' Diversity and Inclusion policies, or through supervisory incompetence placing them there to begin with. To be sure, there are clearly those that should never be in leadership roles. These are the so-called "leaders" that are responsible for these hard to fathom wildland fire tragedies.

Medical researcher Denehy seems to have it right: "a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” (Denehy J. (2008) Leadership characteristics. J Sch Nurs.)

Figure 22. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigations. MOI Page 19 - Perryville WFs Glenn Harder / Tim Smith - Missing Page From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Interesting comments from Perryville Crewmembers Harder and Smith - "Smith and an Indian looked up and saw the fire and heard it."

Warnings from the Navajo Scouts to get out, saw Bachman fall down, unaware that others were trapped behind them, "met [Crew Boss] Terra heading back up," (At this point, I (DF) have to ask - did he really meet with Terra or was he threatened by him to say that? Because myself and others witnessed and talked with him at the Control Road and Fuller Creek Road junction), and they never pulled their shelters but noted others had difficulty with theirs.

"Heard explosions and were running under a ceiling of fire with fire whirls mixed in." These guys were very likely hearing propane tanks and fuel cans exploding, and the 'freight train' sounds, and experiencing and witnessing some way-too-close-for-comfort extreme HRV fire behavior.

Why do these guys have to make comments about how close they are to the water Jerry cans?

Figure 23. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 19- Perryville WFs Glenn Harder / Tim Smith - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

What follows (below) will be the Perryville Crew MOIs, so please (re)consider the Perryville Crewmember locations diagram and note where Crew Boss Terra allegedly was. (Figure 23a. - left) and Perryville Equipment location diagram (Figure 23b. - below) in order to (re)familiarize yourself as you read through their MOIs.

Figures 23a.& b. Perryville Crewmember locations diagram. (left) Perryville equipment locations diagram (below). Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

What follows are Perryville Crewmember Hoke's MOI (2 pages) (Figure 24. - below) stated with some selective paraphrasing: 'Had just finished my break (swamper for Chacon) we were at the water cans. I heard someone say "Get the f**k out." I began running with (Perryville Crew Contreras) I thought of running, but I decided to deploy the fire shelter. The wind was very strong, it almost blew me over. I was in my shelter about 20 minutes. I heard Ellis outside my shelter. He said "I'm hurt bad, my shelter didn't work.' I think there were two blow-overs. I told him to get some water from my pack. Why did it take so long for people to come and help."

Figure 24. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 20- Perryville WF Gregory Hoke - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Perryville Crewmember Hoke stated in Figure 24. (above): "I heard someone say get the f**k out. I began running with Contreras ... I thought about running, but I decided to deploy the shelter. The wind was very strong, it almost blew me over. ... I heard Ellis ... 'I'm hurt bad, my shelter didn't work.' I think there were two blow-overs ... why did it take so long for people to come to help."

Figure 25. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 21- Perryville WF Gregory Hoke - another page 1 of 2 -Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Perryville Crewmember Hoke MOI (Figure 25. - above) stated with some selective paraphrasing: "was working with the sawyers as a swamper ... Chacon heard shouting and saw flames ... ran down and saw flames cross above him between he (sic) and Contreras. Deployed fire shelter. Strong winds. Several fire blasts. Ellis walked past and said 'shelter didn't work' and he was hurt bad.'

Continuation of Perryville Crewmember Hoke MOI (Figure 25. - below) stated with some selective paraphrasing: Hoke observed Ellis walk past him and said "he was dead and walked over to [the] ditch (Walk Moore Canyon creek-bed) ... and sat down and died." He noted that "it was calm before the fire." Hit by several flame fronts. He also wondered why nobody was helping them.

Figure 26. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 22- Perryville WF Gregory Hoke - another page 2 of 2 -Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Continuation of Perryville Crewmember Hoke MOI (Figure 26. - above) stated with some selective paraphrasing: 'Surprised that Ellis was there because he had seen him go up canyon earlier. He witnessed Ellis dying. After the second wave of fire, he looked out from under his shelter and saw flames close to him. He inched his shelter up which was a mistake since the ground was very hot .... it was calm before the fire ... Wondered why no one came looking for them."

Consider now, IC Hollenshead MOI (Figure 27 - below) stated with some quotes and some selective paraphrasing: "Tried to transition with Type 1 Team at 1300. Transition was a problem in that it didn't appear that the incoming Team was recognizing fire behavior and other concerns. ... the Type II Division Sups stayed on the fire throughout the shift."

"At 1100 line personnel were becoming uncomfortable about the situation. Communications was a problem. The overhead was operating on a Tonto [NF] Fire freq. while the Crews were on a State freq. Issues with one of the two Air Attacks. Once in a lifetime fire behavior situation."

Of course there was a problem with the Team transition, see Gil MOI comments above in Figure 17. Of course line personnel were feeling uncomfortable about the situation because for many (most) it was the most aggressive to extreme fire behavior they had ever witnessed. Communications is always a problem on every fire, however, having the Overhead and the WFs on two totally separate frequencies must have been - and still is - a clearly historical event! Who does that?

One item conspicuously missing for IC Hollenhead's MOI - there is no mention whatsoever of shredding documents from the Dude Fire package, at the Tonto NF Supervisor's Office once the investigation began.

Figure 27. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 23 - Type 2 IC Ed Hollenshead - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

What follows (below) are seven (7) pages of Perryville CREP Dave LaTour's Memorandum of Interview (MOI). Yes - seven pages!

Figure 28. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 24 - Perryville CREP Dave LaTour - Page 1 of 7 - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

LaTour's MOI is very difficult to read and decipher at times, so there is a lot of paraphrasing to follow. He was a Rural Metro FD employee that was specifically ordered as a CREP for the Perryville Crew. He traveled with another FF to the fire, arriving in the early morning hours. He worked for DIVS Group Supervisor Ashby and they were to "safety the homes" (which must be somewhat the same as structure protection}. They were told at one point to evacuate, then returned and were directed to Walk Moore Canyon to improve the line, then work up the "telephone line"[power line ROW] to the Bonita Creek Estates. (emphasis added)

Recall that Divisions are geographical in nature while Groups are functional. LaTour and the Perryville Crew were working for the Bonita Creek Structure Protection Group while all others were working for a DIVS doing fire perimeter control.

Figure 28a. Sula Complex. Bitterroot Valley, MT (2000) Geographic Division with perimeter control in background. Functional Structure Group in foreground Source: Lady's name

This is and was a critical factor, on the June 1990 Dude Fire as well as the June 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire and many urban interface fires in between. In other words, when the fire in the forested area in (Figure 28a - left) escapes and burns into your up-til-now fire-free structures within the Functional Group located in the meadow foreground - who works for who when it has gone to s**t?

Figure 29. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 25 - Perryville CREP Dave LaTour - Page 2 of 7 - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

Continuation of LaTour MOI Figure 29 (above) They continued to improve line until it got light and were then directed to continue to "safety homes." After breakfast (0900) DIVS Ashby directed them to 'improve the Walk Moore Canyon dozer line downhill for burnout. They went below Alpine HS and began work.' He dealt with their radio programming issues again and noted other contacts they could use as an alternative. He could see he main fire in the distance above them and slurry drops. Some runs but well above Bonita Creek and the other side of Walk Moore Canyon. DIVS alerted them to watch for spots. Fire behavior was runs to ridgetops, then die down. About 1130 he asked for more drinking water but received no response. During the morning hours, the Zig Zag and Redmond HS hiked passed them about an hour apart. While still gridding for spot fires he worked with Alpine HS Supt. on radio programming issues again and they were unsuccessful. (emphasis added)

Figure 30. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation.MOI Page 26 - Perryville CREP Dave LaTour - Page 3 of 7 -Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

What follows is CREP LaTour's MOI from (Figure 30. above) likely paraphrasing unless in quotes (" "). DIVS Group Supervisor Ashby called to ensure they were spread out watching for spots and improving line. He could see the main fire backing down but not in their drainage. At lunch, there were some winds, squirly with some spots showing up in the drainage, where he put the Crew back to work improving line. DIVS told them to stay below the Alpine HS, so they maintained about a 200 gap between them. (emphasis added)

"It got smoked in about 1-1:30 PM. He was hit by 40-50 mph winds, downdrafts, squirly. It got dark like a sunset. He ran down to the Crew and heard shouting about evacuation. EMBERS THE SIZE OF PINE CONES WERE FALLING. ... He had been told their Escape Route was downhill. When he got to the Crew he could hear yelling and see people running downhill. Heard people yelling and people coming back and a sold wall of fire behind them. It was roaring and solid black. He turned and went back telling people to get shelters out but don't deploy until uphill. There were 2 people ahead of him and about halfway uphill they had to deploy. The others deployed in drainage. He asked for a nose count." (emphasis added) Similar observation of smoke indicating ensuing downdrafts are imminent.

It's incredible that CREP LaTour with all the alleged wildland fire experience, training, and qualifications he supposedly holds, would have ignored posting a designated Lookout, and to rely on a DIVS to tell him where and which way his Escape Route is. And to wait until you have embers the size of pine cones - they likely were pine cones - nonetheless friggin' pine cones on fire bouncing off your fire shirt! And his leadership skills appeared to be lacking with his Crew yelling and running in a chaotic manner and deploying fire shelters.

Figure 31. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 27- Perryville CREP Dave LaTour - Page 4 of 7 - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files

What follows is from (Figure 31. above) likely paraphrasing unless in quotes (" "). The LaTour MOI above covers about an hour period of the Perryville Crew deploying fire shelters and moving around, LaTour encouraging them throughout as they were cursing, screaming, yelling, burning, and dying, telling them to stay put inside their fire shelters, and all other manner of emotional expression. Then beginning to come out to assess themselves and the situation and start hiking out to the Control Road.

Figure 32. Dude Fire Fatalities Investigation. MOI Page 28- Perryville CREP Dave LaTour - Page 5 of 7 - Missing Page Two From"Part 2 - Was the June 26, 1990, Dude Fire a precursor for the "incomplete" lessons learned on June 30, 2013?" ) Source: Anonymous Source from Joy's Records Files