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Mammoth Appeals Reprimand, Fine In Patroller's Deaths

By J.D. O'Connor
October 09, 2006

A state agency responsible for maintaining workplace safety standards in California reprimanded and fined Mammoth Mountain ski area in connection with the deaths of three ski patrollers who died trying to save a comrade from a lethal fumarole at the area last April.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Agency (CalOsha) fined Mammoth $50,000 and, in a sternly worded reprimand from its acting head said the resort should have had a plan in place to screen off the active volcanic vent - a fixture at the area - and to deal with emergencies there.

"If standard practices had been followed, this catastrophic event might not have occurred," Len Welsh said.

But Rusty Gregory, the resort's chief executive, said the patrol had been trained to wait for firefighters when involved in emergency situations involving the vents. They were there that day, he said, to screen off the area and acted impulsively - and bravely - when one of their party fell into a well created by volcanic, toxic gas.

A second patroller went in to save the first man and was overcome, Gregory said. The third perished when he followed and was also rendered unconscious.

"Heroes sometimes do that," Gregory said. "This has truly broken our hearts forever. This was a huge personal loss for us."

Seven other first responders were also injured during the rescue effort. Gregory said he has reviewed the Cal/Osha findings and said he intends to appeal each of the alleged violations pending against the mountain.

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