***Facilitators Field Reference***

**for the**

####### Rattlesnake Fire Staff Ride

######### JULY 2004

**STAFF RIDE DIFFICULTY RATING:**

[Physical]{.underline}

Light -- All stands are located along the Alder Springs Road and can be
accessed by vehicle except for Stand 5. The walk to the Missionary Spot
Fire is about a ¼ mile off the road and this route has been brushed
open.

Moderate - If the group moves between all of the stands by walking
instead of driving, the Alder Springs Road is well maintained and has a
moderate grade. Total distance along the Alder Springs Road is about 3
miles from Stand 1 to Stand 5. Elevation for the area is approximately
2000 feet.

Arduous -- If the optional TDGS #6 is utilized.

[Logistics]{.underline}

Easy -- Site is less than a one-hour drive on paved roads from Willows,
California. A well maintained dirt road provides access through the
entire site.

[Hazards]{.underline}

Low -- Normal wildland hazards (possible snakes, bees, etc.)

NOTE TO FACILITATORS: THIS IS A SUGGESTED FORMAT. DO NOT FEEL LIMITED BY
THE IDENTIFIED STANDS OR DISCUSSION ITEMS. IT IS PROVIDED AS A WORD
DOCUMENT SO THAT USERS MAY ADAPT AND REVISE IT TO FIT THEIR SPECIFIC
AUDIENCE AND TIME DEMANDS.

# **Stand 1 -- Forest Boundary**

## Maps

Travel map

Orthophoto with fire edge and NAD 27 GPS locations for stands shown

### Access

# **NAD 27 GPS Coordinates: 39.39.401 x 122.35.445**

Leave Willows going west on State Highway 162

Turn right at the stop sign at the intersection near Elk Creek

Turn left, continuing on State Highway 162, heading towards Alder
Springs

Stand 1 is at the Forest Boundary

FOR SPECIFIC MILEAGES REFER TO COMPLETE "TRAVEL DIRECTIONS"

### Terrain Orientation

Front country of the Coast Range

Sacramento Valley

Mouth of Powder House Canyon

Powder House road entering from the north

### Events To Describe

General fuel conditions and seasonal situation in July 1953

Origin of the fire and the discovery of the fire

### 

###  

### Discussion Guide

-   During a typical July day in the Sacramento Valley it is not
    uncommon to have temperatures over 100 degrees. Those temperatures
    foster reliable diurnal winds, particularly along the eastern front
    of the Coast Range.

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-   Records dating back to 1911 did not indicate that Powder House
    Canyon had burnt. Therefore, the chamise brush was very
    mature...over 40 years old.

-   Fire season of 1953 was affected by part of an extended drought.

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-   Fire was eventually controlled on July 11^th^ by burning Powder
    House Road which you can see coming in from the north to this
    location.

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-   The Incident Command System had not been developed and the Large
    Fire Organization was being used for a command and control system.
    Line Boss is roughly equivalent to an Operations Section Chief and
    Division Boss is roughly equivalent to Division Supervisor.

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-   Crews for large fire suppression came from a wide variety of
    sources. Dedicated agency staffed crews were not common. Most crews
    came from outside sources such as inmates, loggers, and
    organizations willing to contract to the U.S. Forest Service such as
    the New Tribes Mission.

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-   A number of equipment limitations existed in 1953 to include:

    -   Communications were marginal, at best. Some people had heavy
        pack set portable radios, but communications on the fireline
        were typically carried out by passing voice messages or by
        message runners to adjoining crews and fire overhead.

    -   Chainsaws were not in use and crews used brush hooks for
        clearing all vegetation.

    -   Aircraft for tactical use were not common.

    -   No personal protective equipment (PPE) existed except for
        hardhats, which were not mandatory.

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-   Leadership styles were influenced by numerous returnees from the
    military due to the draft being in effect from WWII through the
    Vietnam War. Typically individuals were put into roles of
    significant responsibility after 4 or 5 years of firefighting.

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-   **Conduct TDGS #1a and #1b**

-   **Handout TDGS #2**

# **Stand 2 -- Oleta Point**

## Maps

## Investigation Report Figure 1

Orthophoto with fire edge and NAD 27 GPS locations for stands shown

### Access

# **NAD 27 GPS Coordinates: 39.39.500 x 122.36.126**

From Stand 1, drive west on Alder Springs Road (dirt) about 1 ½ miles

Road will bend around Oleta Point and through a small cut in the ridge

Stand 2 is at that cut

### Terrain Orientation

Powder House Canyon

Oleta Ridge running east / west up to Rattlesnake Ridge

### 

### Events To Describe

Fire was started at approximately 14:20 about 100' west of Stand 2

Initial attack attempts were made by first in crews at about 15:15

Lafferty arrives at 16:00 and stops unsuccessful initial attack efforts

Ewing arrives shortly after Lafferty and is assigned as Fire Boss (IC)

Fire spread in a westerly direction on both sides of Oleta Ridge

### Discussion Guide

-   There were several rapid transitions in command.

    -   Miller to Lafferty to Ewing.

    -   Ewing was eventually assigned Fire Boss and Lafferty was
        eventually assigned Line Boss.

    -   REFER TO APPENDIX A - TIME LINE

-   Typical hot summer day with upslope wind conditions.

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-   The Rattlesnake Fire was the second fire of the day from the same
    arsonist.

-   At the time Alder Springs Road was the only road in the area.

    -   State Highway 162 / Forest Highway 7 is a new road.

    -   Constructed in 1969 and paved in 1971.

-   **Conduct TDGS #2**

-   **Handout TDGS #3**

### **STAND 3 - The Overlook** 

## Maps

## Investigation Report Figure 2

Investigation Report Figure 3

Fire Progression map

Orthophoto with fire edge and NAD 27 GPS locations for stands shown

### Access

##### NAD 27 GPS Coordinates: 39.39.692 x 122.36.744

Proceed west, up Alder Springs Road ¾ mile

Stand 3 is at the turnout overlook

### Terrain Orientation

Recovery Road that was put in to retrieve the bodies

Cross near the end of Recovery Road

Old car was located on the road in the next ravine to the west

ICP to the west at Powder House Turn

View up and down Powder House Canyon

Sacramento Valley to the East

Routes traveled by the Missionary Crew to and from the spot fire

Alder Springs Road

### Events to Describe

Shift from initial attack to extended attack

Change in suppression strategy

Firing operations were taking place along Alder Springs Road

Firing operations were also taking place down from High Point

Spots at old car and the discovery of the Missionary Spot Fire

### Discussion Guide

-   Overall objectives of the fire

    -   Changed by Ewing and Lafferty after initial attack failed.

    -   Construct line and hold from the heal at Oleta Point to
        Rattlesnake Ridge.

    -   Burn and hold along Rattlesnake Ridge to High Point.

    -   Construct line, burn, and hold line from High Point down to
        Powder House Turn.

    -   REFER TO APPENDIX A - TIME LINE

-   Burning conditions

    -   Crew burning down from High Point was having difficulty getting
        the brush to burn.

    -   Crew along Alder Springs Road got held up dealing with spot
        fires near the old car.

-   Suspected source and location of the Missionary Spot Fire.

    -   Local turbulent wind that was short lived.

-   Initial reaction to the Missionary Spot Fire.

    -   Supervisor Thomas originally thought that the spot was going to
        burn to the ridge top. Therefore, action was not immediately
        taken.

-   **Conduct TDGS #3**

-   **Handout TDGS #4a**

#  

# **Stand 4 -- Powder House Turn**

## Maps

## Investigation Report Figure 2

Investigation Report Figure 3

Fire Progression map

Orthophoto with fire edge and NAD 27 GPS locations for stands shown

### Access

###### NAD 27 GPS Coordinates: 39.39.851 x 122.37.025

Proceed west, up Alder Springs Road ¾ of a mile

Stand 3 is located at the sharp turn to the left at the head of Powder
House Canyon

### Terrain Orientation

Head of Powder House Canyon

High Point is south up the spur ridge from Powder House Turn

Powder House Road splits off to the northeast on Powder House Ridge

Grindstone Canyon to the north

Sacramento Valley to the east

### Events To Describe

Burning operations from High Point to Powder House Turn

Dispatching of personnel to the Missionary Spot Fire

Routes taken to the spot fire

Wind shift between 21:45 and 22:00

Spot fires below Alder Springs Road at the head of Powder House Canyon

Spot fire at Point 28 of Report Figure 3.

Lafferty leaving to warn people at the spot fire at 22:15

### Discussion Guide

-   Decisions and communications regarding the New Tribes Mission crew.

    -   REFER TO APPENDIX A - TIME LINE

-   Topography that fosters the west wind

    -   Easy funneling down Grindstone Canyon when valley begins to cool

-   Meteorological events that cause strong and rapidly changing down
    canyon winds

    -   REFER TO APPENDIX B - WEATHER SUMMARY

-   **Conduct TDGS #4a**

-   **Handout and Conduct TDGS #4b**

-   **Handout TDGS #5**

**Stand 5 -- Missionary Spot Fire**

# [Maps]{.underline}

## Investigation Report Figure 2

Fire Progression map

Orthophoto with fire edge and NAD 27 GPS locations for stands shown

### Access

###### NAD 27 GPS Coordinates 39.39.808 x 122.36.712

**There were 3 access routes to the spot fire taken by 3 different
groups:**

[Route #1]{.underline}-Route taken by Johnson and 3 New Tribes
crewmembers at about 21:00

From Powder House turn step off the road proceeding east

The route proceeds slightly downhill and contour

Cross one ravine and get on top of a small ridge that runs to the bottom

Western edge of spot fire is near the top of the ridge

[Route #2]{.underline}-Route taken by Vote and 14 New Tribes crewmembers
at about 21:15

From Powder House Turn walk northeast on Powder House Road about 100
yards.

Turn right on Recovery Road.

Continue approximately 75 yards to the first spur ridge heading south
into the canyon.

Walk down the ridge approximately 40 to 50 yards to the spot fire.

## Route #3-Route taken by Powers and 4 New Tribes crewmembers at about 21:45

From Powder House Turn walk northeast on Powder House Road about 100
yards.

At the junction of Powder House Road and Recovery Road turn up Powder
House ridge.

Continue up Powder House ridge to the first crest or point.

Turn right down the spur ridge.

Route continues down the ridge and slightly back up drainage to the west
to the spot fire.

# 

# [Terrain Orientation]{.underline}

Head of Powder House Canyon

Recovery Road

South Aspect

Alder Springs Road

Oleta Point

# [Events To Describe]{.underline}

Routes taken by the people to the spot fire

Actions taken on the spot fire

Location of lunch spot

Weather and wind conditions

Spotting at the head of Powder House Canyon

# [Discussion Guide]{.underline}

-   Spot fire becomes the lunch spot for the New Tribes Mission crew.

    -   They began to eat lunch in the ravine on just to the east of the
        spot fire after they contain the spot fire.

    -   Vote and Powers walk up to the ridge and are aware of fire
        activity increase.

-   Warning given to the crew by Lafferty shortly after 22:15 and the
    various escape routes taken by the people on the spot.

    -   The crew broke into two distinct groups as they began their
        escape.

    -   One group of 9 made their escape up to the newly constructed
        dozer line on the top of Powder House Ridge.

    -   The rest of the people began heading east, down canyon, as
        directed by Lafferty.

-   Rattlesnake Fire influences U.S. Forest Service Fire Task Force in
    1957

    -   Blackwater 1937 -- Shoshone NF -- 15 Fatalities

    -   Rock Creek 1939 -- Toiyabe NF -- 5 Fatalities

    -   Hauser Creek 1943 --Cleveland NF -- 11Fatalities

    -   Bryant Canyon 1946 -- Angeles NF -- 2 Fatalities

    -   Mann Gulch 1949 -- Helena NF -- 13 Fatalities

    -   Rattlesnake 1953 -- Mendocino NF -- 15 Fatalities

    -   Tunnel 1954 -- Tahoe NF -- 3 Fatalities

    -   Inaja 1956 -- Cleveland NF -- 11 Fatalities

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-   **Conduct TDGS #5**

-   Handout and Conduct Optional TDGS #6

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
|            | ######## APPENDIX A - RATTLESNAKE FIRE TIMELINE         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 14:20      | Fire is set on Alder Springs Road near Oleta Point      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 15:15      | Initial attack crews arrive and attempt handline south  |
|            | from origin                                             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 16:00 M    | Initial actions are unsuccessful, crews return to Alder |
|            | Springs Road and are directed to the head of the fire   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 17:30      | Direct attack on the head and along the Rattlesnake     |
|            | Ridge from the head to the High Point is successful,    |
|            | and head is contained.                                  |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 18:40      | A handline is completed between High Point and Powder   |
|            | House Turn.                                             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 1          | Firing out commences along the handline from High Point |
| 9:00-19:20 | to Powder House Turn. Crews have difficulty getting the |
|            | brush to burn. **Winds are Southeast/East -Upslope.**   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 19:20      | Firing out starts along Alders Springs Road moving      |
|            | towards Powder House Turn.                              |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 19:40      | 2 Dozers begin to widen the handline between Powder     |
|            | House Turn and High Point and on out the Rattlesnake    |
|            | Ridge.                                                  |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 20:05      | Spot fires, including the Missionary Spot Fire, occur   |
|            | over the Alder Springs Road near the old car.           |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 20:15      | Burning is suspended along Alder Springs Road. Action   |
|            | is taken on spot fires.                                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 20:15      | Forest Supervisor Thomas discovers the Missionary Spot  |
|            | Fire.                                                   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 21:00      | **Winds are light and from the South/Southeast -        |
|            | Upslope.** Decision is made by Line Boss Lafferty to go |
|            | direct on the Missionary Spot Fire. 4 New Tribes        |
|            | Mission crewmembers are assigned.                       |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 21:15      | 1 US Forest Service overhead and 14 New Tribes Mission  |
|            | crewmembers are assigned to the Missionary Spot Fire.   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 21:45      | 1 US Forest Service overhead and 4 New Tribes Mission   |
|            | crewmembers take lunches into the Missionary Spot Fire. |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 21:45      | **Winds begin to shift from South/Southeast to calm**   |
|            | and the main fire is lying down.                        |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 2          | **Wind direction changes to West - Downslope,** firing  |
| 1:45-22:00 | out is continuing along Rattlesnake Ridge from High     |
|            | Point to Powder House Point.                            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 22:03      | Spot fires develop below Alder Springs Road at Powder   |
|            | House Turn. 2 are controlled fairly quickly but little  |
|            | concern is shown for the other ones at this point.      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 22:10      | Spot fire is noticed that will eventually blow up and   |
|            | over-run the New Tribes Mission crew.                   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 22:15      | Line Boss Lafferty becomes concerned with the position  |
|            | of the spot fire as it relates to the position of the   |
|            | New Tribes Mission crew. He runs out the Powder House   |
|            | Ridge to warn the crew.                                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 22:18      | Lafferty yells to the crew to get out and to go to the  |
|            | east.                                                   |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 22:23      | Blow-up occurs, crewmembers going east are being        |
|            | overrun by the fire.                                    |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 22:30      | Some crewmembers choose to go up hill and arrive at the |
|            | top of the Powder House Ridge at this time.             |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 23:00      | Fire reaches the ridge.                                 |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

## **APPENDIX B - RATTLESNAKE FIRE WEATHER SUMMARY**

The original accident investigation focused on [normal]{.underline} down
canyon winds as being the causal factor for the rapid spread and blow-up
of the Rattlesnake Fire. The summary of the weather conditions during
the accident investigation noted "major changes in the synoptic
situations did not occur". "Surface temperatures were moderately high
and afternoon relative humidities were generally low. Winds, both
surface and upper air, were generally light. Fair weather prevailed over
the fire and nearby areas during the period July 9 through 11, 1953.

In 1954, Wilbert R. Krumm, a Fire Weather Meteorologist from Missoula,
Montana wrote a paper entitled "AN EXPLANATION OF METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS WHICH PROBABLY CAUSED THE UNEXPECTED BEHAVOIR OF THE
RATTLESNAKE FIRE....." In his paper, Krumm discounts the theory that
normal, light down canyon winds were the cause of the blow-up and rapid
spread down the Powder House drainage. Krumm theorizes that the blow-up
was instead caused by gradient winds, which had developed because of
pressure gradients between a thermal low over the San Joaquin/Sacramento
Valley and a surface high-pressure system off the coast of Northern
California. John Snook, a Fire Weather Meteorologist with the Northern
California Interagency Fire Weather Predictive Service Center was asked
to review Krumm's paper in 1992 and again in 2004. Snook agreed with
Krumm's theory and summarized Krumm's paper as follows:

During the warm season there is normally high pressure, both at the
surface and aloft, stretching from the northeast Pacific to the coast
range of California. During hot weather in the interior of California,
an elongated area of surface low pressure forms in the Central Valley.
It is this surface low pressure, which is the result of hot air rising
out of the strongly heated Central Valley, that is commonly known as the
\"thermal trough\", or \"heat low\". A fairly tight pressure gradient
exists in the lower atmosphere between the cooler, relatively dense air
from the Pacific High, and the hot buoyant air of the thermal trough
inland. This combination produces a persistent onshore (west to
northwest) wind at lower levels during the warm months.

During the day, heat rising up and out of the hot Central Valley takes
on the form of first up slope, then easterly up canyon winds in the
Grindstone (and other) drainage's of the Coast range's eastern face.
These warm, up slope/up canyon winds are typically strong enough to keep
the westerly gradient wind flow aloft during the day. Late in the day
however, as the eastern slopes of the coast range become shaded and
therefore cooler, the gradient wind begins to drop to the surface on the
shaded upper reaches of the eastern-facing canyons. It then works its
way down toward lower elevations, in other words, a down slope/down
canyon wind.

The above description is a common scenario in California's coast range
during the summer. There are of course, times when the process is
accentuated due the combination deeper-than-usual coastal marine layer
and/or an especially strong thermal low inland. In these cases the
reversal of the flow from up canyon to down canyon is more sudden, with
stronger down canyon wind speeds than normal. This was the case during
the Rattlesnake fire.