Fire Center in Shasta County

So What’s Involved in Fighting Fires?

Last Thursday morning I was going to a business meeting which happened to be next door to the Shasta Fairgrounds in Anderson. As I approached the area, I was met with more fire trucks and fire vehicles than I had ever seen in one place, and it dawned on me, “this is the base for the firefighting”, duh!

As soon as my meeting was over, the “little boy in me”, plus my curiosity took over, and I had to find out more about these fire trucks and what was going on at the ICP (Incident Command Post). For the next 30 minutes I was given an informal briefing on what is involved in fighting these massive fires that have been burning for two weeks. I came away overwhelmed.

First, the entire effort is like a military operation. The ICP in Fusaro Hall is turned into a bustling action center with the walls filled with maps and charts and the 50 tables lining the big room staffed by black and tan uniformed Cal Fire personnel scanning reports and more maps, joined by other fire folks from various fire departments, all supported by the Sheriff’s department from the effected areas. With communication devices (radios and phones) going off and the general atmosphere of both tension and excitement very much present, it became obvious very quickly that this entire effort was extremely well organized and that all of the components involved in the fire fighting were working together in the most professional and cooperative ways possible.

So what are the components that make up an operation like this, called the Shasta and Trinity Lightning Incident? Well, it starts with CAL FIRE, the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. It serves as the incident command (ICP) during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster.

There are a total of 1840 Cal Fire personnel assigned to this “incident”. They function in everything from the ICP to the crews directly working the fire. Almost all of these folks come from outside our area, some from as far away as the San Diego and Washington State, and for the duration of the fire, the fairgrounds becomes their “home away from home”. Many of the personnel stay in tents scattered around the fairgrounds, with many others staying in local hotels. If you wonder why we have had some “no vacancies” at local hotels recently, this is part of the answer. Each morning and evening, private contract services provide complete meals, and then each firefighter is given a bag lunch, which has to hold them until they return for dinner, sometimes as late as 8 PM at night. Those in the hotels patronize local facilities, such as restaurants and stores, as time allows, so we see them in various locations around town in the evenings or when they are on break. Days off are not part of the job description during the Incident. The number of vehicles, along with the fuel used, which is purchased locally, changes from day to day as the situation demands, but as of this week, 225 fire engines, 54 water tenders, 56 dozers, 9 helicopters, 4 fixed wing planes, and 20 hand crews are involved in the Incident. In addition, National Guard helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, along with a Army National Guard bulldozer team are all assisting in the effort. At least 20 local, state, national and private agencies are part of this operation. The cost of the entire effort is huge, as is the entire undertaking… an understatement.

Well, needless to say, I was impressed. Up until now, I would hear and read about firefighting efforts, and how homes were saved; how fire crews would start one fire to stop another; and how the planes would assist the ground crews. Now I appreciate so much the organization and planning that goes into the effort that we see happening right in our area to protect our land and our lives. Thanks to all that are involved. We owe you a big one!

Ron Largent