Story/Photos by JOHN CARR

Redding, California is the State's northern most city. It is located approximately 90 miles south of the Oregon border and 40 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. With a permanent population of 80,000 the weekday population of the city exceeds 150,000.

The Redding Fire Department operates out of seven stations. A daily shift consists of 21 firefighters/captains and 1 Battalion Chief. Chief Jay Gunsauls administers the department. The fire department responds annually to 8,000 alarms with 65% of those being medical service calls. Many parts of the city and surrounding areas are found in the urban interface zone. To meet this challenge the fire department operates both structural (heavy) and wildland (light) engines. Two wildland engines are manned during wildfire season. Three additional light engines are cross-manned by on duty personnel. Engines are staffed with 2-3 personnel. Cross-trained staff mans the truck.

On Saturday, September 14, at approximately 6:50 a.m., the Redding Fire Department began receiving numerous calls of a fire at the Meeks lumberyard, on Cypress Street. Calls were received from passerby's and company employees. The fire dispatcher immediately sent Engine 5, Engine 55 (light) Engine 1, Truck 1 and Battalion 1. As Battalion Chief Ron Keown responded from Fire Headquarters he observed a large column of smoke in the vicinity and requested a second alarm. A second alarm sent Engine 2 and 3, and Breathing Support 4. It also requested that off duty and paid-on-call personnel respond to cover empty stations.

Upon his arrival Chief Keown reported that a large warehouse attached to the main store was well involved. He immediately requested a third alarm. A third alarm requires the response of all off duty personnel. It dispatched Engine 6 and 7, and five engines from Shasta County. Deputy Chief John Kaylor, the fire department's operations chief also responded and assumed the command of operations and safety. Battalion Chief Keown remained the Incident Commander (IC).

Engine 5 arrived and began operating from a hydrant on the west side (Larkspur St.) of the main fire building. They protected a large warehouse (Exposure C) with their deluge gun. Engine 1 also responded to Larkspur and began attacking the fire building with their deluge nozzle. Engine 55 advanced a 2 ½" line into the lumberyard and began exposure protection and suppression. Truck 1 arrived and advanced two handlines into the main store. Arriving firefighters from Redding, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), and Shasta County continued the defensive attack.

It took firefighters nearly 2 hours to control the flames. 16 engines, one truck, various support vehicles and nearly 70 firefighters responded to the fire. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians and the fire remains under investigation. Ironically a multi million-dollar fire destroyed a large hotel under construction near the lumberyard