Rattlesnake Memorial

CLOSED - due to August Complex

Rattlesnake Memorial

The Rattlesnake Fire occurred on July 9, 1953. It was the second arson fire of the day on the Mendocino National Forest and took the lives of 15 firefighters. A formal staff ride was built and dedicated July 9, 2005 with the help of Forest Service and CAL FIRE employees. 

The Rattlesnake Staff Ride is designed to take you through the events of the Rattlesnake Fire and foster an understanding of what took place and how we can learn from this tragic loss of life. Throughout the staff ride, participants engage in present day tactical decision games which encourage open discussion and self-reflection. By discussing historical strategy, tactics, and Human Factors we can hopefully learn and have a better understanding of the complex and dynamic environment in which we work.

The Staff Ride is now included into the Wildland Fire Apprenticeship Program course curriculum. The Mendocino Hotshots facilitate the staff ride approximately a dozen times a year to hundreds of participants across multiple agencies (Forest Service, BLM, CAL FIRE, Municipal departments). 

Directions:

GPS information (Latitude, Longitude)

39.6669°N, 122.6667°W