Firefighting, particularly of the wildland variety, is a profession where you can expect to encounter the unexpected at any time – a lesson recently learned well by a three-man crew from Rio Verde Fire District on assignment with the Forest Service in northern California.

The crew was negotiating a narrow mountain road to reach the site of a reported lightning strike when a 12- to 15-inch tree trunk came crashing through the passenger side window of the truck. No one was injured.

The team -- led by crew chief Jeff Staples, firefighter engineer Jamie Hughes and firefighter paramedic Nate Malmrose -- took the RV Fire District’s Type 3 engine to Kalmath National Forest.

They were called not to fight a specific fire, but to fill a slot for an engine that had been sent to Washington State to fight fire.

On Saturday, July 4, a storm with active lightning moved through the forest and a lightning strike with reported smoke was called out near Jackson Creek. The Rio Verde crew was assigned to respond to the report along with three Forest Service units. They left about 6:30 p.m.

Peaks in the Kalmath forest reach up to 9,000 feet and the road around the mountain they were traversing was a narrow “two track” barely wide enough for the engine.

The slow, careful assent involved Forest Service crew members in smaller trucks ahead moving to clear brush to allow the engine to pass. One stop required a significant effort of manpower to move a boulder from the path.

Staples and Malmrose repeatedly had to get out of the truck and guide Hughes through narrow spots as daylight began to wane. In far northern California the summer sun will remain until well after 9 p.m.

The crew came upon some brush covering up to half the roadway and stopped to check to see if it was passable. They determined it was light brush and the truck could pass with no more than a few scratches. When he returned to the truck Staples rolled up the window to prevent the brush from coming through and slapping him.

Very soon after rolling up the window the tree crashed through window, passing just in front of Staples and stopping just inches short of Hughes’ seat.

Hughes secured the brakes and got out to inform a battalion chief who was following. Malmrose checked out Staples to make sure he was not injured.

The battalion chief was a certified chain saw operator and cut the tree away from the engine and removed debris from the cab.

It was determined the crew could continue toward their objective. A short time later as they continued toward the reported fire it was determined by supervisors that the fire did not require immediate overnight attack and the team was released to turn back down the mountain, and they found the descent was uneventful.

Forest Service personnel with the Scott River District in Kalmath National Forest conducted an investigation into the incident and verified that all safety procedures were adhered to.

During the course of the investigation the battalion chief reported seeing the root ball of the tree and the slide path down the side of the hill. It is believed that when the brush along the road was disturbed it dislodged the already fallen tree.

It was determined to be a no-fault accident and was categorized as a “near miss” due to the potential for tragic consequences. A Forest Service Safety Specialist reviewed the incident and prepared a “Lessons Learned” article for industry publications.

The engine and crew returned to Rio Verde July 9 and the vehicle has been sent in for repairs.