US Forest Service

An employee working as a contracted firefighter was using a bulldozer to push back an active fire line when they became entrapped in flames, resulting in first- and second-degree burns.

An employee had been assisting fire crews with an active wildfire. The employee suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized for surgery.

On June 22, 2023, a crew was hiking and clearing trails while heading to an avalanche area to remove trees. The crew came across a tree that was 10-inches in diameter and suspended above ground across the trail. The injured employee used a hand saw to cut the tree. The tree was tangled with another tree, causing it to kick up and strike the injured employee. She fell to the ground and became pinned to a log, resulting in a puncture wound to the leg and lung damage that required hospitalization.

An employee was receiving an overview on how to clean out a piece of the top dressing machine when it gets jammed with pearlite. The employee went to feel the roller grooves when the machine activated and amputated his right index fingertip.

Employees were fighting wildfires when the wind changed and blew the fire back onto the firefighters. The employees sustained multiple burn injuries and one firefighter was run over by a UTV while trying to escape the flames.

An employee was on a horse performing ranch work when the horse went into a ditch and fell over on the employee. They suffered hip and leg injuries.

An employee was trying to rope the rear legs of a cow. The cow changed direction and the rope whipped, causing the employee to fall from his horse. He landed on the ground on his back and broke several ribs.

An employee was riding a horse on a trail to provide information and directions to park visitors. As the employee and horse were transitioning down a slope and to the left, the employee fell off the horse onto the trail. The employee sustained swelling and bruising to the spine, a neck injury, and lacerations and contusions.

An employee was riding a horse to check for sick cattle when the horse became spooked and bucked the employee off. The employee was knocked unconscious and suffered a brain bleed, fractured ribs, fractured vertebrae, and a tear in his left shoulder.

An employee was participating in a training when they were thrown from a horse. The employee struck the ground and sustained a concussion.

An employee was using a chainsaw to cut downed trees. The employee slipped and fell, and the chainsaw lacerated their left hand.

A crew of approximately 20 employees were constructing hand lines when a dead tree collapsed and injured three of the employees, including two hospitalizations. One employee was hospitalized due to shoulder injuries, and the other employee was hospitalized due to collapsed lungs, spinal injuries, and a broken tibia and fibula.

An employee was cutting brush and shrubs. A bee stung the employee on the base of their neck. The employee sustained an allergic reaction and was hospitalized.

An employee was engaged in initial smokejumper training which includes physical fitness testing, tree climbing training, chainsaw and crosscut certification, as well as initial introduction to equipment and smokejumper-specific safety procedures. Some of the training involves carrying 110 pounds of equipment. The employee reported tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing. The employee was hospitalized with a lung injury.

An employee participated in smokejumper training, which includes carrying weight. He suffered from dehydration and was hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis.

An employee was conducting fire suppression operations on a wildfire. He pulled a hose from the engine. He then charged the hose and began to put on his gloves. A flareup occurred and the employee sustained burns to his face and hands.

An employee was delivering mail when she tripped on an uneven sidewalk and fell forward onto the ground, hitting her right knee and the left side of her face. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured kneecap that required surgery.

An employee was walking toward the breakroom when they were struck by a sit-down forklift that was backing up. The employee suffered an amputation of the left leg just below the knee.

An employee was delivering mail on July 10, 2024, when they became overheated. The employee was hospitalized for heat illness.

On July 4, 2024, a security officer was in pursuit of a suspect when he jumped over a wall and injured both legs. The employee was hospitalized for fractures to both legs.