24 Hour Report Miami Lookout Death

File Code: 6730
Route To:
Date: October 27, 2006
Subject: Preliminary (24-hour—after the accident) Briefing
To: Bernie Weingardt, Regional Forester

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Location: Miami Lookout, Bass Lake RD, Sierra NF, California
Date of occurrence: October 26, 2006
Time of occurrence: Approximately 1830 hours
Team leader: Fred Buhr
Mission: Volunteer fire watch
Activity: Closing and securing fire detection lookout facility
Number injured: 0
Number of fatalities: 1
Property damage: none

Narrative: A volunteer with the Sierra NF Fire Detection Program was in the process of closing and securing the lookout facility. The volunteer radioed Sierra Dispatch of his status at 1810 hours. The volunteer was alone. The domestic partner of the volunteer called the Fire Detection Program Volunteer Coordinator when the volunteer did not return home as usual. The Volunteer Coordinator drove to the lookout facility and found the volunteer deceased leaning against the exterior of his POV at about 2100. The volunteer had suffered heavy blood loss from severe head trauma after an apparent fall down the lookout stairs. The volunteer had attempted to get to his POV before expiring. A regional investigation is in progress.

cc: D. Edgar, Acting Safety Manager

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72 Hour Report  Miami Lookout Death

File Code: 6730 Date: October 29, 2006
Route To:
Subject: Expanded Briefing
Miami Lookout Fatality; Bass Lake RD; Sierra NF, Region 5
October 26, 2006
To: Cecilia Bennett

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Name of deceased: Josiah Nickerson Knowles Jr.

Preliminary factual findings:
Josiah Knowles Jr., was a lookout volunteer with the Sierra N.F. Detection Program at the Miami Lookout on the Bass Lake Ranger District. October 26, 2006 Mr. Knowles went out of service with Sierra Dispatch at 1756 hours. The volunteer was alone. The domestic partner of the volunteer called the Fire Detection Program Volunteer Coordinator when the volunteer did not return home as usual. The Volunteer Coordinator drove to the lookout facility and found the volunteer deceased leaning against the exterior of his POV at about 2100. The volunteer had suffered heavy blood loss from severe head trauma. The volunteer had attempted to get to his POV before expiring.

Narrative:
On Thursday, October 26, 2006, Mr. Knowles a lookout volunteer with the Sierra N.F. Detection Program left his private residence to work at the Miami Lookout tower at 0800 hours. At 0855 hours Mr. Knowles went in Service at the Miami Lookout tower and went out of service for the day at 1756 hours. Mr. Knowles domestic partner called the volunteer coordinator at approximately 2020 because Mr. Knowles had not returned home yet. The volunteer coordinator drove up very slowly to the Miami Lookout tower with his domestic partner and looked over the road edge the whole way up to make sure Mr. Knowles had not driven off the edge. Upon arrival at the Lookout tower the Volunteer coordinator’s domestic partner noticed Mr. Knowles near the base of the tower near his vehicle in the fetal position, slumped over onto the rear driver side tire. The volunteer coordinators called 911 from down stairs and then went upstairs and called Sierra Dispatch directly. CDF engine 4264 along with CDF Battalion Chief 4214 arrived and helped secure the scene. U.S.F.S. BC-12 arrived at scene with the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office at 2154 hours. Mr. Knowles had sustained severe head trauma which included an avulsion of the scalp. Mr. Knowles was deceased at the scene.

/s/Fred Buhr, Team Leader
/s/Michelle Reugebrink, Chief Investigator
cc: Dave Edgar, Acting Regional Safety Manager
Ed Cole, Forest Supervisor, Sierra N.F.
Dave Martin, District Ranger, Bass Lake R.D., Sierra N.F.
Peter Tolosano, Regional Fire Safety Manager