JOHN CARR
Firehouse.Com Contributing Writer/Photographer
Also See: Complete SlideShow Of Colorado Wildfire Academy
With nearly 2200 firefighters battling the 103,000 acre Hayman Fire one might expect 44 firefighters from California to be lost in the mix. That has not been the case. The California Office of Emergency Services, under the direction of Assistant Chief Dan Tinnel, sent two strike teams consisting of 10 Type 1 engines, 4 strike team leaders and 40 firefighters to the fire burning near Denver. The firefighters have become the local media darlings. Their presence in the area has sparked a number of newspaper stories, photograph's and television interviews.
World War II saw the formation of the California Civil Defense Corps. At the conclusion of the war rather than disband the services the civilian defense organization switched priorities to natural disasters. As part of the Governor's Office, the California Office of Emergency Services was formed. Today OES owns more than 100 fire engines. They are deployed in fire stations strategically located around the state. Though owned by OES they are manned and maintained by the individual fire departments that house them. The apparatus are available to each fire department for use as a reserve unit. Should that unit be mobilized by OES the fire department must respond with their firefighters or lose use of the engine.
There are six OES regions in California. The engines generally are dispatched to floods, earthquakes and fires within state lines. The California OES received a request to respond two structural protection strike teams to the fire burning in Glenwood Springs late Sunday, June 9. Within hours the crews were on their way to Colorado, 1500 miles away. This was to be the largest deployment by OES outside of California.
The ten engines and crews arrived in Colorado in less than 30 hours. With the Coal Seam Fire posing less of a threat the strike teams were diverted to the rapidly advancing Hayman Fire, near Denver. With as many as 14,000 homes threatened the teams were deployed to the raging Hayman Fire as soon as they arrived in Castle Rock. One can only imagine the public's reaction to the sight of ten California fire engines responding in mass to the burning foothills.
The strike teams consisted of: Strike Team 2800, from Santa Rosa, Napa City, Pacifica, Santa Clara and Moraga-Orinda, with strike team leaders Jim Parrott and Jim Pope. Strike Team 4800, came from Eldorado, Elk Grove, Folsum, South Placer, and Woodbridge, with strike team leaders Jim Stephens and Richard Holmes.
The two teams were assigned to provide structural protection to numerous homes around the tiny community of Trumbull. Trumbull is located along the South Platte River. This area is famous for its scenic views and outstanding fishing. It is a regular stop off for current Vice President Dick Cheney. Trumbull made headlines just three weeks ago when the Schoonover Fire burned 5,000 acres and 15 structures, within ½ mile of the town's fire station. While the Platte River runs thru the valley, many of the homes are located on narrow driveways that run into the steep mountainsides.
Strike team engines were placed near endangered structures. Crews were prepared to fight the fire should it reach the structures. They also preformed important preventative tasks such as removing fuels from around the buildings. They also trimmed the lower branches of the trees near the homes and cut fire lines as a last defense. On several occasions firefighters burned the low fuels, grasses and weeds around the house's perimeters.
While the fire had calmed down to a large degree crews from three of the engines got to witness firsthand how serious a wildfire can be. On Friday afternoon, as crews were cutting fireline near one structure a fast moving weather system moved thru the area. Winds from the storm pushed the low burning fire into the treetops. Firefighters witnessed a line of trees nearly 200 feet wide spontaneously burst into flames. The flames reached over 100 feet above the treetops. With the fire advancing on them everyone was forced to make a hasty retreat. After the storm passed, two engines from Nevada joined the California crews. They re-entered the woods and completed the line. Once the structure was secured the entire area around the house, approximately 50 acres, was burned off.
Under federal regulations firefighters can only work on a fire for 14 days without relief. The California strike teams have been spending at least 16 hours a day on the firegrounds. With no let up in fire activity in Colorado they fully expect to remain in the area until their time is up. Much to the satisfaction of many of those residents evacuated from their homes.
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