Incident Media Videos

The Summit Lake Fire has been dominated by slow moving, frequently described as 'creeping', ground fire.  This sort of fire very effectively reduces the fuel load on the forest floor and will promote the regeneration of herbaceous species.  A slow moving ground fire, however, increases the contact time of the fire at the base of trees.  Trees that are already weakened by decay or that have cavities at the base of the tree, and particularly if those trees are hollow, may be substantially weakened.  If these trees do not fall during the fire, they may present a substantial hazard to anyone in their vicinity, and may be particularly hazardous during a wind event.  Anytime spent in the out-of-doors is time well spent. But, being mindful of the hazards you may encounter, considering your own safety, and the safety of those you care about, can only only add value to time well spent.

While waiting for rain to clear from the area, firefighters on the Summit Lake Fire took a tactical pause on the morning of October 25 to simulate an injury and practice medical response in the field.  The exercise was led by Safety Officer Randy McKenzie with the Michigan Interagency Type III Incident Management Team.  These exercises, and in the case of a real medical emergency, are referred to as an 'Incident within an incident', or more commonly as an 'IWI.'  The IWI medical response procedures are the product of what is known as the Dutch Creek Incident, where a young firefighter, Andy Palmer, tragically lost his life for lack of adequate medical response.  These procedures are now a required element of every wildland firefighters experience.  You can read more about the Dutch Creek Incident here: https://www.nwcg.gov/6mfs/day-in-history/dutch-creek-incident-california-july-25-2008.

This video compilation provides aerial imagery, captured by USDA Forest Service Unmanned Aerial Systems drone flights, conducted over the Summit Lake Fire on October 22 and October 24, 2024.  The first flight captures imagery during active fire behavior on the southwest flank of the fire, the second flight captures aerial imagery from the same location on October 24 following the wetting rains of October 23. The use of drones is strictly regulated within the Fire Service and drone pilots are required to undergo substantial training.  The use of drones in the Fire Service substantially reduces the risk to pilots, aircraft, and crews.

The Fire Boss is a scooping type single engine air-tanker, commonly referred to as a 'SEAT.'  The Fire Boss is powered by a turbine driven 1,600 horsepower engine.  The aircraft carries both water (820 gallons) and foam tanks (78 gallons), meaning that the aircraft is capable of delivering a load that weighs nearly 7,000 pounds.  Because of its performance, it is one of our most commonly used aircraft on the fireline.  You can learn more about the Fire Boss here: https://firebossllc.com/specifications-and-performance/.