Kaiser Canyon Fire Dozer Burnover 2026

On July 16, 2026, a lightning-caused fire was reported around 0530 hours. A dozer, along with other resources assigned to the fire, were relocated to catch a spot fire.

The dozer was instructed to push a firebreak along the fire’s right flank. After tying into the highway shoulder, the dozer pushed approximately 60 yards of firebreak when the wind started to shift. The flank that the dozer started pushing quickly became a head fire and started spreading rapidly toward the dozer’s location.

As the operator recognized the wind shift and change of fire direction—with flame lengths growing from 3–5 feet to nearly 20 feet—he picked up the pace as the fire was within feet of the dozer, burning grass and larger brush. At this time, the dozer shut down.

The operator managed to get the dozer re-started and backed up—away from the heavier brush—approximately 20–25 yards when the dozer shut down again.

The operator abandoned the dozer and walked along the firebreak to the highway. Twenty minutes later the operator were driven to the hospital and treated for second degree burns.