Incident Name: en route to Canyon Fire at Vandenburg Air Force Base
Date: 09/21/2016, 0620 hrs
Personnel: Ryan Osler
Age: 38
Agency/Organization: employee of the Ventura County Fire Department; Organization of Emergency Services water tender from Ventura County Fire Department; en route to a fire on Vandenburg Air Force Base; accident investigation by the California Highway Patrol, etc
Position: Engineer
Summary: On September 21, 2016 at about 6:20 AM, Fire Engineer Ryan Osler died in a line of duty vehicle rollover accident near Lompoc while en route to the Canyon Fire. The water tender in which he was passenger was traveling westbound on State Route 246. As it approached a roundabout on Purisima Road, it hit a curb on the roundabout, causing the tender to rollover. Both firefighters were wearing seatbelts. The driver who is reported to have self-extracted was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Ryan Osler was trapped inside the vehicle. CHP officers with the Ventura County Fire Dept, Buellton Station are investigating the crash.
Photo credit: the Ventura County Fire Department
Maps
State Route 246 at Purisima Road in Lompoc
{mosmap lat=’34.664528’|lon=’-120.407964’|marker=’0’|text=’Accident location’}
Accident location in relation to the Canyon Fire:
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- From the Ventura County Fire Department:
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that the Ventura County Fire Chief announces the tragic loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler, who lost his life in a line of duty vehicle accident on the Canyon Fire on Wednesday, September 21, 2016.
A second firefighter was involved in the accident and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
We welcome your thoughts and prayers for the families of these firefighters. We ask that everyone be respectful of them at this time.
Please be patient as more information continues to be released.
- Ventura County Fire Department: News Release (30 K pdf)
- Screensave of Announcement of Engineer Ryan’s death on Inciweb:
- Current Info on the Canyon Fire burning in a remorte canyon on Vandenburg Air Force Base Inciweb Page
Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
- Ventura County firefighter dies after truck rolls over while working on the Canyon Fire
9/21/16 | Online Article
LOMPOC, Calif. — Authorities say a Ventura County firefighter has died after the water tender he was in rolled over multiple times Wednesday morning Sept 21.
Ventura County Fire Chief Mike Lindbery announced the tragic loss of Fire Engineer Ryan Osler in line of duty vehicle accident.
The accident happened around 6:20 a.m. on State Route 246 at Purisima Road in Lompoc.
Officials on the scene of the accident say two firefighters were in the Ventura County water tender truck when it crashed.
The passenger was killed, while the driver suffered only minor injuries. it is not clear what caused the accident but authorities are investigating.
The California Highway Patrol says the deceased firefighter was trapped inside when the vehicle crashed. The rig was assisting with efforts to fight the Canyon Fire on Vandenberg Air Force Base. (Much more at the link…)
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- Firefighter remembered by family and colleagues
9/21/16 | online article and photos of some of those awaiting the procession
… On Wednesday morning, the flag was flying at half-staff outside Station No. 42 in Moorpark, where Osler worked, and flowers were at the bottom of the flagpole.
The firefighting community continued to pay respects to the fallen firefighter when his remains were brought back to Ventura County on Wednesday afternoon. As Ventura County and California Highway Patrol helicopters flew overhead, county fire engines and patrol vehicles flanked a white hearse as it left the Santa Barbara County Coroner’s Office for Camarillo. Firefighters from Ventura and Santa Barbara counties as well as community supporters lined Highway 101 overpasses and saluted as the hearse went by. (much more at the link above…)
- photo credit: Tom Kisken on Twitter: Firefighters await the motorcade that carries the body of their fallen comrade. Rice overpass at 101.
Contributors to this article: RJM, Mellie
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