A fatal pasture fire that claimed the life of Shawn Gose last month has been ruled an accident, fire marshal Alan Stoll said Monday.
"Really, nothing changed much," he said. "It was an unfortunate accident that happened. They were just in the wrong place."
Stoll conducted interviews and examined conditions the day of the blaze to compile a report on the fire that occurred April 8 southeast of Winfield. That investigation included speaking with Chip Chisholm, who was working the fire with Gose when it got out of control.
Even with that interview it is not entirely clear what occurred in the moments just before, during and after Gose was fatally hurt, Stoll said. Wind and other conditions caused the fire to switch directions rapidly and trapped the men as they tried to get away in a work truck.
The two men were out of the truck ? after it became stuck on a fence ? as the fire closed in on them.
"Both men had to run through the firewall to escape, one made it and one did not," Stoll said. "Now whether (Gose) fell or became confused, we really don’t know that for sure."
The two men were working for Ranger Tree Service when a pasture burn got out of control. Gose had some experience working controlled burns, but Chisholm did not, Stoll said.
A copy of the final report will be sent to interested parties, including any insurance companies conducting their own investigations. There are no criminal charges resulting from the fire.
Stoll would not comment on the possibility of a civil lawsuit regarding the fire but said such suits are always possible in fatality cases.
