Sawtooth Rx Entrapment Fatality 2003

On May 14, 2003, Mr. Richard G. (Rick) Lupe, a Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Apache Agency
firefighter, was entrapped during the Sawtooth Mountain Prescribed Burn on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
At approximately 2:30 pm that day a lookout reported an increase in fire behavior. Mr. Lupe advised that he would recon the area of concern. A short time later, Mr. Lupe experienced extreme fire behavior. Nearby crews heard radio transmissions from Mr. Lupe stating he needed medical assistance because of the burn injuries he had received. Mr. Lupe walked--under his own power--from
the burnover site heading downslope in the drainage. After being observed by other fire personnel, he was assisted downslope on a trail to an area accessible to a government vehicle. Mr. Lupe was then transported via vehicle to the helispot and flown to the Indian Health Services Hospital (IHS) in Whiteriver, Arizona. Within one hour of his arrival at the IHS hospital, he was air evacuated to the Maricopa Burn Center in Phoenix where he was listed in critical condition with burns over 40% of his body.

Five days later, Rick Lupe died from his burn injuries.

Fatality, Burn Injury, Fire Shelter Deployment, Fire Behavior, Entrapment, Prescribed Fire