Taylor Firefighters Help Fight California WildfireJuly 30th, 2008
By Naomi Hatch
Taylor firefighters have been wildfire certified, so several recently traveled to Redding, Calif., to help fight one of the many wildfires the state is currently experiencing. They were assigned to the Chico Base Camp, Butte Lightning Complex in Chico.
Taylor Fire Chief Clay Wood said they worked in Paradise Community, which lost 50 homes. Going with Chief Wood were Matt Cox, Nathan Crowther, and Marty and Ava McNeil, and they took a structure engineer, because they were assigned to structure fires, and a chase vehicle.
Chief Wood said they fought fire 16 hours a day, one day for 24 hours, with the assignment to mop up anything hot and smoking along the roadway. He explained that there is so much land that has been burned that after the fire is contained, they start a perimeter to continue efforts to ensure that there are no flare ups.
One interesting thing they had to watch for that was something they haven’t seen in our area--marijuana patches. The chief explained that the marijuana is grown for three reasons, pre scri ption, private use or trafficking. They were warned to be aware of booby traps in illegal marijuana patches.
Chief Wood said they saw a lot of burned out homes and tragedies with the fires. The fires burned the bottom of the trees, but not the canopy, so all they need is a lightning strike and wind, and the destruction could continue.
The Taylor firefighters went with the Lakeside Fire Department. The Verde Valley Fire Department, Bullhead Fire Department, Globe Fire Department and Flagstaff Fire Department all had trucks and firefighters there.
The Butte Lightning Complex was fought by 56 hand crews, 53 dozers, 359 engines, 16 helicopters, 52 water tenders and 345 overhead personnel for a total of 3,132 personnel.
The complex fire remained within the established perimeter, giving firefighters favorable conditions overnight with very little wind on Sunday, July 13. The fire was 100 percent contained when the Taylor firefighters returned home.
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