A funeral procession was held for a firefighter killed while battling the colossal wildfire that's still threatening homes in Southern California. An autopsy found Cory Iverson died from burns and smoke inhalation. (Dec. 18) AP
Cory Iverson, a San Diego-based firefighter who was one of the thousands fighting the blaze northwest of Los Angeles, died Thursday. A review team will investigate what happened. (Dec. 15) AP
Over 6,000 firefighters battling southern California blaze Video provided by AFP Newslook
California's biggest wildfire has burned through at least 362 square miles and has destroyed at least 683 homes. Thousands of homes are threatened as strong wind pushes the blaze through bone-dry land. (Dec. 12) AP
Firefighting crews are lighting backfires to burn away dry vegetation and contain the massive fire that has burned at least 362 square miles northwest of Los Angeles. (Dec. 12) AP
Tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes as flames churn through foothill towns near Santa Barbara, the latest flare-up after a week of wildfires throughout the region. (Dec. 11) AP
California's largest and most destructive wildfire has spread beyond Ventura County and forced evacuations in some coastal parts of Santa Barbara County, to the northwest. The fire has burnt at least 270 square miles. (Dec. 11) AP
California fire officials anticipate fires will keep growing due to gusty winds, no rain and decades-old dry vegetation. The biggest fire burned at least 270 square miles northwest of Los Angeles, where people are buying masks for the smoke. (Dec. 11) AP
Forecasters say high winds will bring rapid or dramatic increases in wildfire activity. USA TODAY
Horses and other animals displaced by the Lilac fire in San Diego County find shelter at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Southern California. USA TODAY
Firefighters were still working in communities north of San Diego Friday that were hit by a fast-moving wildfire. The blaze tore through the area Thursday as powerful winds are still fanning flames across Southern California. (Dec. 8) AP
Wildfires continue to destroy land and homes in Southern California. Months of dry conditions and whipping Santa Ana winds have created the perfect equation for devastation. USA TODAY
At least 65 structures have been destroyed by a wildfire in semi-rural north San Diego County. Cal Fire also says there's still no containment of the fire early Friday. Trees were charred for miles along Highway 76. (Dec. 8) AP
California's biggest wildfire forced evacuations in Faria Beach, a small community on the coast between Ventura and Santa Barbara. (Dec. 8) AP
The massive wildfire in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles, grew to 180 square miles and destroyed more than 400 buildings by late Thursday. It's forcing the evacuation of communities between Ventura and Santa Barbara. (Dec. 8) AP
A Cal Fire Division Chief says a fire near San Diego destroyed 20 homes and damaged 12 more. The fire tore through mobile homes in a retirement community. The blaze is heading west towards the Ocean, threatening Oceanside and Camp Pendleton. (Dec. 8) AP
Four active wildfires in southern California have caused people and pets alike to seek shelter. USA TODAY
Six separate wildfires are threatening millions of people in one of the country's most densely populated areas. USA TODAY
Firefighters continue battle to control the Skirball Fire near downtown Los Angeles. The blaze is 20 percent contained around 475 acres with flare ups in the Bel-Air Crest area. (Dec. 7) AP
Authorities closed a major freeway Thursday as flames from the Southern California wildfire jumped lanes and threatened beach front homes. (Dec. 7) AP
Anthony Reyes, best known for pitching the Cardinals to a Game 1 victory in the 2006 World Series, is on the front lines fighting the Californian wildfires. Time_Sports
One brave man has become a viral hero after witnesses captured him coming extremely close to danger himself while rescuing a rabbit from the wildfires ravaging California Time
Darlene Jordon has lived in this home above the city of Ventura, California, for more than two decades. Her house was filled with memories and souvenirs. But it’s all gone now after a raging wildfire reduced it to ash and rubble. (Dec. 7) AP
This was startling scene along Interstate 405 in Los Angeles as a wildfire engulfed the hills. USA TODAY
Flames erupted Wednesday in Los Angeles' exclusive Bel-Air neighborhood as multimillion-dollar houses and modest tract homes alike came under siege from an outbreak of wind-whipped wildfires across Southern California. (Dec. 6) AP
Southern California officials are warning of unprecedented dangerous winds on Thursday, with gusts possibly reaching 80 mph. The region is dealing with several massive wildfires that have around 200,000 under evacuation orders. (Dec. 7) AP
At least one person has died as a result of the fast-spreading wildfire plaguing more than tens of thousands of acres in southern California Time
Ferocious winds in Southern California whipped up an explosive wildfire that forced thousands of homes to evacuate and could soon threaten a city of more than 100,000, authorities said. Time
Residents of Santa Rosa, California were allowed to return Friday to areas ravaged by recent wildfires. Officials say more than eight thousand structures were destroyed by flames that tore through the region in Northern California. (Oct. 20) AP
Dramatic cell phone video along a busy Los Angeles freeway shows flames from a raging wildfire burning along hillsides early Wednesday. Officials say hundreds of structures may have been lost in wildfires burning across Southern California. (Dec. 6) AP
Firefighters in southern California are working overtime to protect homes in Los Angeles. A new wildfire broke out in some of Los Angeles' most exclusive neighborhoods, which includes the upscale Bel Air Estates. USA TODAY
As drivers headed down the 405 freeway, they were met with giant flames from the several fires burning in Southern California. USA TODAY
Nearly 200,000 people have been told to evacuate from three massive wildfires in southern California. Many people fleeing the flames are bringing along their animals. (Dec. 6) AP
Wildfires driven by winds approaching hurricane force swept across Southern California Monday night into Tuesday, scorching thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of structures - from Ventura County to communities north of Los Angeles. (Dec. 5) AP
Authorities are urging tens of thousands of people to flee their homes as wind-driven wildfires scour communities northwest of Los Angeles. Two fires have burned about 30 homes and are being pushed by Santa Ana gusts. (Dec. 5) AP
According to the Ventura County Fire Department, the Thomas Fire was first reported Monday evening north of the city of Santa Paula. Video provided by Newsy Newslook
Wildfires driven by winds approaching hurricane force swept across Southern California Monday night into Tuesday, scorching thousands of acres and destroying hundreds of structures - from Ventura County to communities north of Los Angeles. (Dec. 5) AP
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in an exclusive ridge-top neighborhood in Los Angeles as a dangerous new wildfire burns in Southern California. At least two homes are burning in that area. (Dec. 6) AP
Authorities estimate a wind-driven Southern California wildfire has grown to more than 70 square miles. (Dec. 5) AP
Whipping Santa Ana winds are playing a huge role in how quickly the Thomas Fire is spreading across Ventura County, California. Fire officials say it's a "very bad scenario." USA TODAY
Wildfires in Southern California have triggered evacuation orders for nearly 200,000 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. The fires remain mostly out of control. (Dec. 6) AP
Thousands of homes have been evacuated after a wind-whipped wildfire exploded overnight in Southern California. The fire has burned through at least 40 square miles northwest of Los Angeles. (Dec. 5) AP
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VENTURA, Calif. — A firefighting engineer killed in the largest fire in California history was trapped by flames while he and his team tried to douse flare-ups above Fillmore.
That's according to a preliminary report recently released by the state agency. It details the chain of events from Dec. 14, when Cory Iverson, 32, died in the blaze. The report also lists safety issues for review.
Iverson, who had worked for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) since 2009, had responded to help battle the Ventura County blaze as part of a fire engine strike team out of the agency's San Diego unit.
The Thomas fire exploded in Ventura County about 6:30 p.m. PT Dec. 4 under extreme conditions. It burned quickly through dead and drought-stressed vegetation pushed by gusty Santa Ana winds and grew rapidly.
The fire, which has now burned 440 square miles in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, has not yet been fully contained. Two people, a woman evacuating the fire and Iverson, died and 1,063 structures were destroyed.
More: 13 dead as mudslides sweep away homes in storm-blasted Southern California
More: Lawsuits allege Southern California Edison negligently started Thomas fire
On Tuesday, at least 13 people were killed as mudslides swept through the area after heavy rains poured onto fire-damaged hillsides.
Early on Dec. 14, Iverson's team was working in steep, rugged terrain above Fillmore when the fire whipped up.
About 9 a.m., he and several firefighters were working along a line cut by two bulldozers when a spot fire flared in the area.
Within minutes, the small fires were growing fast.
Four firefighters were able to retreat up an escape route and were uninjured, the preliminary report says. Iverson, however, became trapped while trying to put out the flames and was killed.
Autopsy results showed he died from burns and smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported.
Authorities said the engineer's death warrants a "regular review" of the Foundations of Safety for Wildland Firefighting.
A Cal Fire spokesperson could not be reached Tuesday to answer questions about that process.
The report also notes that extreme fire behavior has been observed on California wildfires, including the Thomas fire, due to critically dry brush that in many cases has found fire retardant to be "ineffective."
The steep terrain, heavy vegetation and hazardous weather conditions such as erratic winds and low humidity — all which were present when Iverson died — contribute to that extreme fire behavior, the report states.
"On December 2, 2017, the Oxnard office of the National Weather Service issued a red-flag warning for the Ventura County area, ending on December 15, 2017. In the days to follow, this would become the longest continuous red-flag warning ever issued in the state of California, lasting 13 days," according to the report.
When fire activity changes and moves in an unexpected way it should require crews to pause and re-evaluate the situation, the report states.
"One spot along the dozer line was safe enough to pick up. When there were spot fires that prevented safe travel back to the dozer line, a re-evaluation should have taken place," the report states.
Before Iverson and the team began their 24-hour shift two safety briefings were held, according to the report.
It was not known what was said at those meetings.
The crew was in the second half of their shift when Iverson became trapped. They worked from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 13 mopping up flames that had gone over a fire line on a ridge southwest of an avocado orchard, the report states.
More: Fallen firefighter honored by crowds on overpasses during procession
More: Thomas fire becomes California's largest wildfire in history
After that, they didn't find any other work in the area but remained there until about 3:30 a.m. Dec. 14. Then the wind picked up and they saw the glow of new spot fires , the report states.
When Iverson and the four other firefighters in his strike team began working that day fire intensity was described as low and the upslope wind was pushing the smoke toward the west.
Two bulldozers were being used to cut a line near an avocado orchard in the area, and crews went in to lay hoses along the line.
They each carried 300 feet of hose. Iverson also carried a scraping tool. As they started, the fire backed up to the dozer line, the report says.
As they worked, spot fires flared up. One started burning in front of Iverson, and as he worked to put it out with a tool, a second one was reported nearby.
Iverson dropped some of the hose from his pack and went to put out the second spot fire. When he got there, it erupted.
"At the same time, additional spot fires erupted along the dozer line west of the original spot fire," the report says.
With spot fires growing fast, firefighters' hoses did little to quell the flames. Iverson called in a request for air support. That was his last confirmed radio transmission, the report says.
By 9:25 a.m., a captain reported to Iverson that additional spots were burning below him. "He told (Iverson) to 'get out of there.'"
As the fire ramped up, four other firefighters dropped their hose packs and retreated along the dozer line.
At 9:27 a.m., a captain called "mayday." More teams responded, including helicopters, which reported seeing Iverson retreating from the flames. But two spots erupted in his path, forcing him to switch direction.
Tall vegetation in the area reached as high as his chest and head in spots. At times, the report said only the top of his helmet could be seen.
![Firefighters from Kern County, Calif., work to put]()
1 of 132![A firefighter from the California Conservation Crops]()
2 of 132![Flames burn near power lines in Sycamore Canyon near]()
3 of 132![Firefighters from Kern County, Calif., work to put]()
4 of 132![A Bombardier 415 Superscooper makes a water drop on]()
5 of 132![Flames churn towards a large fire break near homes]()
6 of 132![Kyle Cox, 7, uses a hose to water down the burning]()
7 of 132![Firefighters water down burning embers from an overnight]()
8 of 132![Los Angeles skyline is seen through burned trees after]()
9 of 132![Flames from a back firing operation underway rise behind]()
10 of 132![An Erickson MD-87, right, makes a Phos-chek drop while]()
11 of 132![Firefighters watch flames as the Thomas Fire approaches]()
12 of 132![Firefighters battle flames on State Route 150 between]()
13 of 132![Bill Hahn, owner of the Rose Story Farm, at his 15-acre]()
14 of 132![An inmate wild land fire crew clears brush at the Rose]()
15 of 132![Charred ground in the Shepard Mesa neighborhood smolders]()
16 of 132![A fire-fighting helicopter makes a water drop on a]()
17 of 132![Firefighting helicopters try to save a house from the]()
18 of 132![A house burns near Casitas Pass Road as the Thomas]()
19 of 132![Firefighters move away from a burning house after discovering]()
20 of 132![Firefighters investigate burnt out cars, as the Thomas]()
21 of 132![A firefighter hoses the burning ruins of a house near]()
22 of 132![Horses that were evacuated from the Thomas Fire are]()
23 of 132![The ruins of a house that was destroyed by the Thomas]()
24 of 132![Christmas decorations illuminate a house as the growing]()
25 of 132![People watch as the Thomas Fire advances toward Santa]()
26 of 132![Local residents keep watch while fire and smoke from]()
27 of 132![A helicopter drops water while trying to keep a wildfire]()
28 of 132![Firefighters light backfire while trying to keep a]()
29 of 132![CalFire works in Ventura County as efforts continue]()
30 of 132![Fire burns utility poles in Ventura County as efforts]()
31 of 132![Flames rise as a fire front approaches the Lake Casitas]()
32 of 132![National Guard helicopters make water drop as the Thomas]()
33 of 132![Firefighters watch after setting a backfire at night]()
34 of 132![Firefighters set a backfire to make progress against]()
35 of 132![Firefighters put out burning embers from recent Ventura]()
36 of 132![A thank you banner for firefigters is placed on a grass]()
37 of 132![Firefighters monitor the Thomas fire as it burns through]()
38 of 132![A hillside glows with embers as the Thomas fire burns]()
39 of 132![Judy Bell surveys the damage to her home on Dec. 8,]()
40 of 132![A charred snowman holiday display looks out over mobile]()
41 of 132![A holiday display hangs on the side of a mobile home]()
42 of 132![Firefighters rest after protecting mobile homes after]()
43 of 132![Marissa Sherman, left, reacts as she sees the destroyed]()
44 of 132![Dick Marsala looks through debris from his destroyed]()
45 of 132![Firefighters battle the Lilac fire in Bonsall, Calif.,]()
46 of 132![Fire crews search for hot spots among destroyed homes]()
47 of 132![Gary and Eileen Young of Pilgrim Creek rest at the]()
48 of 132![A street destroyed by the Lilac Fire in Rancho Monserate]()
49 of 132![Firefighters monitor a fire beside Highway 33 north]()
50 of 132![Firefighters put out burning embers from the Thomas]()
51 of 132![A photo album damaged by fire is see amid the destruction]()
52 of 132![A wreath hangs on the gate of a burned property at]()
53 of 132![John Knapp examines the damage from the Lilac Fire]()
54 of 132![Firefighter Jason Scott of the Heartland Fire Dept.,]()
55 of 132![Local resident Pal Paricsy looks over the remains of]()
56 of 132![A structure burns at the Lilac Fire early Friday morning]()
57 of 132![Richard Timboe, right, and his son Steve move items]()
58 of 132![A home destroyed by the Lilac Fire is seen in Rancho]()
59 of 132![Dick Marsala looks through debris from his destroyed]()
60 of 132![A firefighter douses a smoldering pile of wood chips]()
61 of 132![A street destroyed by the Lilac Fire in Rancho Monserate]()
62 of 132![Horses that survived the Lilac Fire in their stalls]()
63 of 132![Firefighters break up hotspots in an attempt to halt]()
64 of 132![Firefighter Simon Garcia, of Heartland Fire Dept.,]()
65 of 132![Exhausted firefighters have their first rest in over]()
66 of 132![A plane drops fire retardant on a wildfire Friday,]()
67 of 132![John Knapp's back windshield is covered in red splatters]()
68 of 132![Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along]()
69 of 132![A fire ravaged vechile remains parked in front of fire-affected]()
70 of 132![A man bicycles past bluffs burned in the Thomas Fire]()
71 of 132![Firefighters walk to the fire line at the Lilac fire]()
72 of 132![Volunteers rescue horses at a stable during the Lilac]()
73 of 132![Firefighters walk to the fire line at the Lilac fire]()
74 of 132![The Thomas Fire burns a hillside behind Lake Casitas]()
75 of 132![Christy Woodhams and her son Josh Lowe inspect the]()
76 of 132![Firefighters monitor a section of the Thomas Fire along]()
77 of 132![Firefighter Mike Warren, part of a Portland, Ore.,]()
78 of 132![The 101 Highway was closed after the Thomas Fire jumped]()
79 of 132![A helicopter drops water while battling the Thomas]()
80 of 132![A group of horse rescuers stages in a parking lot as]()
81 of 132![A firefighter battles a wildfire at Faria State Beach]()
82 of 132![Palm trees sway in a gust of wind as a firefighter]()
83 of 132![Two firefighters watch as a home burns in a wildfire]()
84 of 132![Firefighters work to extinguish the Thomas Fire as]()
85 of 132![The 101 Highway was closed after the Thomas Fire jumped]()
86 of 132![A motorists on Highway 101 watches flames from the]()
87 of 132![A section of the Thomas Fire burns on a bluff on Dec.]()
88 of 132![Orange County firefighter Robert Bucho tapes off Highway]()
89 of 132![Firefighter Dan Whelan is silhouetted against the sun]()
90 of 132![A woman involved in a traffic accident waits to get]()
91 of 132![A volunteer passes supplies donated to Thomas fire]()
92 of 132![A family wears face masks as they walk through the]()
93 of 132![The Thomas Fire burns near Highway 101 in Ventura,]()
94 of 132![An evacuees from the Thomas Fire rests in the Ventura]()
95 of 132![The Thomas Fire burns near Highway 101 in Ventura,]()
96 of 132![A new wildfire broke out overnight in some of Los Angeles']()
97 of 132![LAFD Captain Scott Quinn coordinates the attack on]()
98 of 132![Dense vegetation along the canyon walls fueled the]()
99 of 132![Firefighters try to save a house in the 1700 block]()
100 of 132![Firefighters work in the Bel Air Estates area of Los]()
101 of 132![A vintage Mercedes sits in ruins along with a burned]()
102 of 132![Firefighters battle flames on Foothill Boulevard in]()
103 of 132![A horse rider heads back to his home as other owners]()
104 of 132![Residents watch fire retardant dropped on an area of]()
105 of 132![As the sun sets, a resident watches the Rye Canyon]()
106 of 132![Los Angeles County firefighters battle flames in Lake]()
107 of 132![Residents gather on Poe Parkway in Stevenson Ranch,]()
108 of 132![Michael and Vonea McQuillam stand beside their house]()
109 of 132![A fireman walks past a totally engulfed burning home]()
110 of 132![A man rides his bike past a home consumed by a wildfire]()
111 of 132![James and Josie Ralstin carry belongings from their]()
112 of 132![The Thomas Fire burns in the hills above Santa Paula]()
113 of 132![Horses are evacuated from a ranch along Kagel Canyon]()
114 of 132![Engineer Brock Harmon from the L.A. Fire Department]()
115 of 132![Firefighters put out flames near a home along Kagel]()
116 of 132![Horses are evacuated during the Creek fire on Dec.]()
117 of 132![A home totally engulfed in flames from the Thomas fire]()
118 of 132![Homeowner Alan Barnard walks past the remains of his]()
119 of 132![As the Hawaiian Village apartments burn a man dodges]()
120 of 132![Smoke from the Creek wildfire in the San Gabriel Mountains,]()
121 of 132![Flames rise near a home as a wildfire burns in Ventura,]()
122 of 132![The Hawaiian Village apartments burn out of control]()
123 of 132![Greg Smith stands amid the ruins of his home after]()
124 of 132![Smoke rises behind a leveled apartment complex as a]()
125 of 132![A firefighter checks damage to a home at Lake View]()
126 of 132![The Thomas Fire burns in the hills above Santa Paula]()
127 of 132![The Thomas Fire burns in the hills near Steckel Park]()
128 of 132![A fire near Santa Paula burns in the background on]()
129 of 132![A home in Ventura goes up in flames as the Thomas Fire]()
130 of 132![Flames totally engulf two homes at the corner of North]()
131 of 132![The Hawaiian Village Apartments burn as a neighborhood]()
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As crews tried to douse the flames by air, others tried to cool down a route for teams to search for Iverson. At 10:05 a.m., his body was found in a deep gulch south of his last known position, the report says.
Cal Fire personnel stayed with his body until it could be escorted from the scene.
A section of the report called Safety Issues for Review lists several common factors in fire fatalities, including that flare-ups occurred in deceptively light fuels and most of the fires "were innocent in appearance" before a blowup happened.
At the time of Iverson's death, Cal Fire Chief Ken Pimlott announced the fatality, saying little about the circumstances. Pimlott said a "serious accident review team" would investigate what happened.
Iverson is survived by his wife, Ashley, and 2-year-old daughter Evie. His wife is expecting their second daughter.
Follow Cheri Carlson on Twitter: @vcCheri
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