Near Miss: New York Peak Fire, Leonard Creek Ranch
Several members of the Eldorado Hotshots were caught in a fire whirlwind like the one described in "Tuesday's Fire" on an incident in the Pine Forest Range west of us last week. Fortunately, they survived. Three were flown into Winnemucca; two continued to a burn unit in Las Vegas for treatment. Firefighters describe melted hard hats and plastic shovel handles from a fire whirlwind that jumped up and laid down across the fireline, enveloping this crew. There was apparently almost no time for the firefighters to react or deploy fire shelters.
There were unconfirmed rumors that some of the crew were actually thrown into a bulldozer by the whirlwind. Other unconfirmed rumors circulate about one guy healing up at the Winners Inn Casino in Winnemucca after being treated and released from the local hospital, where locals bought him a few well-deserved cool beverages. Can't say enough about these kids who risk their lives for us every day during fire season. Buy 'em a drink if you have a chance.