INCIDENT SUMMARY


On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, a National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC) burn team was working on a 21 acre prescribed burn with employees of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) on TNC property at the Rock Hill Preserve just west of Tallahassee, FL. PFTC and TNC have a MOU and Participating Agreement through the US Forest Service, National Forests in Florida.

The burn was being conducted under the guidance of the TNC's unit manager, a PFTC field coordinator (a qualified Burn Boss Type 2), and a trainee burn boss (RXB2t). The burn team was comprised of individuals from a variety of federal land management agencies. During the course of the burn, a TNC employee received a 2nd degree burn to his nose and a 3rd degree burn to his hand. The TNC employee received medical treatment and lost time from work to tend to the injury.

PFTC and TNC are in the process of conducting a review of the incident, and more information will be forthcoming upon completion of the review. Until the review is complete we have agreed to a stand down of PFTC burn teams working on TNC property.


Contact Info:

Phillip D. Weston,
Director, NIPFTC
3250 Capital Circle SW
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Phillip_Weston@FWS.gov
(850) 528-0745 Cell
(850) 523-8633 Office