Osha Cites `Indifference’ For Fire Deaths Forest Service, Blm Violations Contributed To 14 Casualties

Thu., Feb. 9, 1995

Associated Press

Violations of procedures and “plain indifference” by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service contributed to the deaths of 14 firefighters in a Colorado wildfire last summer, federal safety officials said Wednesday.

Thirteen Forest Service firefighters and one from the BLM were killed July 6 on South Canyon mountain near Glenwood Springs when an abrupt change in the weather whipped the blaze across hundreds of acres in a few hours.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration issued notices to the two agencies Wednesday citing them for one alleged willful violation and one alleged serious violation of standard firefighting procedures.

A seven-month review of evidence from the scene, documents and numerous interviews led to OSHA’s conclusion, said Joseph Dear, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health.

The two agencies, Dear said, “failed to recognize and respond in a timely manner to numerous factors that, together, clearly identified the South Canyon fire as highly hazardous to firefighting personnel.”

The alleged willful violation was based on the “plain indifference” that management of the two agencies demonstrated toward the health and safety of their employees, Dear said.

Adequate safety zones, escape routes, weather forecasts and information on expected fire behavior were not given to the firefighters, nor were adequate fire lookouts used, OSHA said.

The alleged serious violation said the agencies failed to ensure that existing safe firefighting practices were followed, OSHA said.

Kathy Brinkley of Burns, Ore., whose 22-year-old son Levi died in the blaze, said she was happy the firefighters weren’t blamed.

“I’m glad they found someone accountable for this,” said Brinkley. “I hope this makes (fire bosses) think before they make a decision.

Of the 14 firefighters killed, nine were from Oregon, two from Idaho, two from Colorado and one from Montana. Smokejumper Don Mackey of Hamilton was the Montana victim.

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