Report Blames Managers In Wildland Firefighter Deaths

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service released its investigation report and accident prevention action plan on the Cramer Fire, which killed two firefighters, Jeff Allen and Shane Heath, in central Idaho on July 22, 2003.

The report found "inadequate management oversight" as a key factor in the two firefighter deaths. "Leadership on the Cramer fire was inadequate to provide for safe and effective suppression operations."

And most importantly, the investigation found, "There was a delay in formulating and executing a plan to retrieve the rapellers from H-2."

According to the Idaho Statesman, fire managers decided a full two hours before their deaths that 24 year-old Jeff Allen and 22 year-old Shane Heath were no longer needed.

Among the management errors highlighted in the U.S. Forest Service report was the fire manager