By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald
Firefighters from East Pierce Fire and Rescue returned from California Nov. 2 after participating in one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of that state.
Capt. Pat Beers and firefighters Brian O'Leary and Daryl Flood spent 11 days in Southern California mopping up hot spots and relieving firefighters who had spent days without sleep after battling blazes.
California officials estimated about 22 fires ravaged areas from north of Los Angles to San Diego.
It was the first time in the history of California the state called for agencies outside of the state to bring fire engines and other support vehicles to fight fires.
“At any one time California can mobilize 1,500 and 2,000 fire engines and they ran out and needed more help,” O'Leary said. “Just the size of the deployment was unbelievable.”
The strike team that included the East Pierce firefighters and one of the district's fire engines left at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 23 for California. The team had firefighters from Pierce, King, Thurston and San Juan counties on five engines.
They arrived first at the Grass Valley Fire in the Lake Arrowhead community of San Bernardino after 31 hours of driving.
“We had to be very cautious how we drove,” Flood said. “Driving was great, but riding in those jump seats weren't. They're not meant for long distances.”
The team left Grass Valley two days later, headed for San Diego and the Harris fire.
The state of California reported the Harris fire, which started Oct. 21 at Harris Ranch Road in Portrero in San Diego County, burned more than 90,000 acres.
Five people died in the fire, 21 residents were injured and 36 firefighters were hurt. More than 200 homes and nearly 300 outbuildings were destroyed.
The estimated cost of the fire by the state exceeded $15 million. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The team gathered at Gillespie Field near San Diego. The members immediately relieved the firefighters on the scene who had been fighting the blaze for days without sleep.
“They were very happy to see us,” Beers said. “They had been there four days and they were very understaffed.”
Flood said the their job was to make sure the fire was “100 percent out. We became a hand team making sure there were no hot spots so if the wind came up again it didn't start another fire.”
O'Leary said both firefighters and residents were grateful to see the team members.
“Being down there helping to relieve the firefighters was very cool,” O'Leary said. “Everyone was very happy to see us. Every time we came back there were snacks on our (fire engine) seats. That first night at midnight someone showed up with brownies and ice cream.”
More than 2,500 firefighters gathered at Gillespie Field.
“I could stand on top of a fire engine and all I could see were fire engines in both directions,” O'Leary said.
Beers said the experience was, “an absolutely positive event both for our precinct and on a larger scale. Now that we've done it once it could happen again. Now we look at if there is a way to get us there quicker. But everyone along the way was very happy to see us.”
According East Pierce Deputy Chief John McDonald, the state of California will cover the cost of the firefighters' salaries, equipment use and wear and tear of the vehicles.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.
