Four CAL FIRE Firefighters Burned During Covelo Prescribed Burn, All Released
Stock image of Cal Fire fighting flames. [Image by Mark McKenna]
New details released by the CAL FIRE Mendocino Unit confirm that the injuries reported during a prescribed burn near Covelo on Friday, May 1, involved four firefighters, all of whom have since been treated and released.
Earlier scanner traffic indicated a multi-casualty incident during vegetation management operations, with four patients reported—two suffering moderate burns and transported by helicopter.
In a statement issued later, CAL FIRE Mendocino confirmed, “Earlier today (5/1/26), while performing vegetation management activities near Covelo, four firefighters from the CAL FIRE/Mendocino Unit received burns and were transported to UC Davis Burn Center and Howard Memorial for assessment and treatment.”
The social media post stated, “Due to the remote location and the need to ensure our employees received rapid care, two of the firefighters were flown by helicopter to UC Davis.”
Fortunately, the employees are not seriously injured. “All four employees have been evaluated and released from the hospital,” the agency reported.
The incident occurred during a planned vegetation management burn in the South Covelo area, part of an ongoing effort to reduce wildfire fuels across approximately 1,000 acres of chaparral and understory vegetation.
Earlier: Multi Casualty Incident at Covelo Prescribed Burn; Four Patients, Two Being Medevacked
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It’s great to hear that the employees were not seriously hurt but it would be good to know what happened. Prescribed burns can be a management tool but it’s also true that more than one large fire has been caused by loosing control of a “controlled burn.” It’s is not unreasonable to expect public concern over things that go wrong with them
Ditto.
It would be good to know what happened.
It can inform those who participate in controlled burns in the future.
Agree, the public has a vested interest and a right to know “where” and “what happened”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for the work and want it to continue, just not feeling like they are meeting their obligation to transparency here yet..
Every 1 in 500 prescribed burns get out of control. Prescribed burns have a success rate of over 99.8%. The weather often plays a big role and is unpredictable. If there were no prescribed burns there would be a lot more huge wildfires.
As I said elsewhere, concern over prescribed burn doesn’t mean objecting to them. But if, accepting your figures which are not link to authoritative stats, if two out of a thousand get out of control and cause sizable damage, this is a reason for asking what went wrong. No one has said there should be no prescribed burns but that doesn’t mean there should be no concern over them. Not one managed in the best practices should get away. Ever. If they did, there was an error of judgement that scrutiny could eliminate happening again in the future. The weather may not be controlled but being more aware might lead to better judgements.
Fires have a tendency to create their own weather. If the wind changed unexpectedly, they could have been caught in the backdraft. Still, it would be nice to know…..
Every 1 in 500 prescribed burns get out of control. They have a success rate of 99.8%.
You said that before….
Are you an AI robot?
🤔
Many of us are doing burns now ahead of the dry season. Not landscape burns- burn pile burns- but still any knowledge gained from fire mistakes is always welcome to share. Fire is serious business. Yes- it’s fun too but also very serious!
I take comfort in torching my piles right after or during a big rain storm in Jan-Feb. Once the days get longer and everything starts to dry out, I’m done for the year.
Since I’m working solo in a fairly unreachable area I just prefer knowing I can let the flames get as high as I want with embers flying and still there will be zero chance of igniting the sopping wet ground fuels.
Besides, tending a fire on a hot day is miserable .. definitely winter work.
Good news….Burns are no joke.
Great news for friends and families! Decisive and impressive actions taken. We are thankful.
I would like to know how or why the CAL FIRE firefighters received their burns. I would think something caused the prescribed burn to just explode, possibly from wind a defective trip torch, etc. I am also relieved that they have been released from the hospital and hopefully are getting better. It is a very dangerous job, but they will risk their lives to save others.
No expert here, but all the incidents I’ve read about involved a shift in wind pattern. I suppose there could be an operational issue too, like having folks deployed in the wrong position.
That is completely possible. I am not sure if they were seasoned firefighters or ones fairly new to the job. I am just happy they will be ok.
Where exactly is this prescribed burn? “East of 101 and South of Covelo” is really broad. Is this a continuation of the work on Shamrock property, or further inland?
Can’t think of a good reason for CalFIre to be so vague in a PSA.
All firefighter get basic medical training and have the opportunity to get extensive training. They take very good care of their own and are guaranteed top notch burn care.
Screw-ups happen……..
Having said that, there is probably lawyers telling them to shut up about what happened.
I think all firefighters should be required to get extensive training for burns, bad cuts, etc. I am not sure about the lawyers telling them to shut up, but it is possible.
Why you don’t use gasoline cans to start a fire. Maybe their igniters weren’t working. Just one scenerio. Interesting it’s being hushed. I’m assuming, covering someone’s donkey. Their public employees so we have a right to know.
Glad they are out of the hospital. Stuff happens on controlled burns winds shift, weather changes. The list goes on. Hopefully all these controlled burn operations will make for a safer fire season. Thanks guys! Heads up out there!
I was privilged to work with the rx burn and wildfire communiy for many years. In an effort to understand rx fire and wildfire as part of my job, I took many trainings and asked so many questions of knowledgeable folks. I was responsible for approving rx burning in our area (top 3 in the state consistantly (12 to 15 k acres/yr). Yes there were several burns that caused impacts and taught all involved lessons to improve future operations and do better.
Rx burn advocates can and have been myopic (in my experience) when pushing to achieve their goals for rx regulation changes and perception about burning. Often differing viewpoints or opinions are interpreted as opposition to burning. I found rx burners to be passionate about their belief in burning and genuine in using fire safely.
Mother nature is a big wild card. Weather forecasts have and continue to improve (shoutout to our local NOAA folks on Woodley Island). The information provided is invaluable to planning and burn operations from the regulatory side all the way to ignition. A forecast is just that. It is not a gaurantee of exact conditions for the burn duration. Ask me how I know.
I have great respect for the people dedicated to doing this often underappreciated work. In training and practice worker safety is always the primary concern. You can bet that this incident will be thourghly investigated and the report will be used to improve safey and training. I am grateful that the folks injured have been released and wish them a swift recovery.