Oakdale Rural Fire District Entrapment 1926

An engine from the Oakdale Rural Fire District staffed by W. C. Bach, Oscar Klaber, and Frank Rossli responded to a rapidly expanding vegetation fire burning through wheatfields, grass and brush east of Oakdale, California, early on the afternoon of July 5, 1926. During initial attack of the fire, the vehicle became incapacitated and was overrun by fire. Bach and Klaber were seriously burned, and Rossli received minor burns. All were taken to Oakdale hospital. The vehicle reportedly had issues with a faulty or broken wheel, a problem which had occurred on the same fire earlier in the day. All three firefighters reportedly survived their injuries. 

Entrapment, Burn Injury, Engines, Initial Attack