NPS Firefighters Visit Site Of South Canyon Fire

On July 6, 1994, the South Canyon Fire near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, took the lives of 14 firefighters, greatly impacting the interagency fire community. The accident has led to a number of significant policy changes in wildland fire, and a "staff ride" (an on-site study) of the accident location and the fatalities has occurred annually for the past six years.

On May 27th and 28th, members of the National Park Service's Alpine interagency hotshot crew from Rocky Mountain National Park, along with members of the Redding interagency hotshot crew from California, participated in the annual South Canyon staff ride. Participants visited the accident site and conducted a number of exercises designed to stimulate discussion focused on improving safety, leadership and decision-making on the fireline.

For information on participating in future staff rides, contact Jim Shultz at the Fire Management Program Center, (208) 387-5215 or jim_shultz@nps.gov.