1984 04/25 AR Rainbow Springs

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Incident Name: Rainbow Springs Fire
Date: 04/25/84, approximately 1645 hrs
Personnel: 2 Lives Lost
Age: Varies
Agency/Organization: US Forest Service
Position: Dozer Operater Team

Summary:

Paul Keener, Age 40
James L Frizzell, Age 34

On April 25, 1984 a fire started in logging slash on the Mena District of the Ouachita National Forest. The area experienced high fire danger on this day, with a number of new starts that all saw unsually high fire behavior for the fuel conditions. Keener and Frizzell were members of the Poteau Tractor Crew. Ground Crews were conducting a burnout operation, when there was a tremendous build up of the fire. The ground crews disengaged, and approximately 5-10 minutes later the bodies of Keener and Frizzell were discovered; both died of aphyxiation and burns.

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