Inversions have slowed the spread of the Log and Whites Fires in northwest California. The July Complex was made up 26 fires, now these two large fires are receiving the most attention from the incident management team led by Jerry McGowan. The fires were the result of 955 lightning strikes in Siskiyou County on July 29.
About 780 residences are threatened by the fires which are being fought by 1,910 personnel with 100 engines, 30 dozers, and 58 hand crews. Combined, the two fires have burned over 30,000 acres.
Evacuation orders are in effect for the communities of Sawyers Bar, Eddy Gulch, Little North Fork, Idlewild, Mule Bridge, Robinson Flat and Whites Gulch.
Interesting series of photos of National Guard folks – proud of them for serving our country, and happy to have them on fires, but safety appears to be lacking. No shelters while working and no seat belts during transport as Bill noted. Their lives are no different than anybody elses. Get them the gar and treat them the same as the rest of us, please – before tragedy strikes!
McGowan is a Federal IMT IC not CalFire
Interesting they don’t have shelters or packs either. I guess I don’t know if they are operating somewhere that’s just dead cold (no fire) or what but I don’t think our volunteer department would be too pleased if we had photos taken with shirts untucked and no packs on a fireline. I wonder if this photo is part of a commentary started with the photos of the crew haulers.