Incident Name: Hogg Hollow
Date: Incident date 10/29/1991, around midnight ; Death date John Spangler 10/31/1991; Death date John Adams 12/1/1991
Personnel: John Emerson Spangler & John Randall Adams
Age: each was 19 years old
Agency/Organization: Neon Volunteer Fire Department, Neon KY; Kentucky Division of Forestry
Position: firefighters
Summary: The fire that killed John Spangler and John Adams started on the ditch line bank along Hogg Hollow Road at Neon KY; it faces S/SW. The ditch line leads directly and steeply uphill into the woods and up to the top of the spur ridge after passing through two flat bank areas. Above the second 60-foot wide bank area, it is almost too steep to climb and has a wire fence. Fire scars on tree bases indicated the fire had only 3 foot flame lengths until it hit the last bank and jumped uphill. There it was 20-25 feet up the sides of the trees. The firefighters tried to outrun the flame front without success. John Spangler died from his burns the next day. John Adams was burned critically and died a month later. Two firefighters survived their burns. Reportedly, one person there thought that strong, young John could have saved himself but chose to help others attempt to get over the fence and up the unclimbable hill.
Maps
Hogg Hollow at Neon KY; Hogg Hollow is a narrow one lane road that runs NW off Hwy 317 in Neon, KY
{mosmap lat=’37.195050’|lon=’-82.718404’|marker=’0’|text=’Hogg Hollow Rd, Neon, KY’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Hog Hollow Entrapment Report (2835 K pdf)
- Social Security Death Index: John E Spangler
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Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
John Spangler named as fallen; John Adams died later on December 1, 1991.
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- USFA Memorial Database: John Emerson Spangler | John Randall Adams
- In 2002: Members of the Route 377 Fire Department in Northeastern Kentucky have purchased the Hickory Flats Fire Lookout Tower, formerly part of the old Cumberland National Forest, now the Daniel Boone NF. The tower which has been inactive will be restored and staffed by volunteers during fire season. The tower grounds will be deciated in the memory of Kentucky firefighters — including John Spangler and John Adams — who have lost their lives fighting wildfires across Kentucky.
Contributors to this article: Mellie, Danny Blevins
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