After the MP18 Fire broke in the Hoopa valley in eastern Humboldt county on August 7th, our crew was called to staff local CalFire stations with E5416. First assigned to Bridgeville for several days, the crew was moved later to the Thorn station in Whitethorn. During this coverage, our crew responded to numerous first aid calls, including one unusual walk-in emergency. The patient in this case was a small female puppy that had suffered numerous bee stings and was not breathing. With some improvised care, oxygen was administered with positive pressure, the puppy started breathing again and was transferred to emergency veterinary care.
On August 14th, Briceland Engine 5446 with a three person crew joined our first “Foxtrot” Strike Team; 2075F – bound for the MP18 Fire. Type 6 engines are smaller, highly maneuverable fire engines designed for quick response and operations in areas where larger apparatus may have difficulty accessing. Their agility makes them particularly valuable for wildland fire operations and remote terrain. The team was composed of engines from Briceland, Whitethorn, Telegraph Ridge, Palo Verde, and Mendocino, with a command vehicle Strike Team leader Chris Emmons from Arcata Fire. Our team would end up working alongside Task Force “2075 Charlie” with Type 3 engines from Shelter Cove, Salmon Creek, Anderson Valley and a Water Tender from Redway.
With so many local volunteer firefighters and resources assigned outside the area, maintaining emergency coverage at home became an important priority. To ensure our communities continued to have a local response capability, an additional “Westside” coverage was established and staffed in 12-hour shifts by firefighters from Briceland, Whitethorn, and Telegraph Ridge Volunteer Fire Departments.
This summer has been a good example of how mutual aid works at the local level. Our volunteer departments are willing to send firefighters and equipment wherever they are needed, but just as importantly, neighboring departments work together to make sure that when our people are away helping others, our own communities remain protected.
