September 2020 - Page 13 of 13

August Complex of fires in northern California grows to nearly a quarter million acres

Bill GabbertSeptember 1, 2020September 2, 2020Wildfire

September 1, 2020 | 3:11 p.m. PDT

Map of the August Complex of fires in northern California, 11:45 p.m. PDT August 31, 2020.

The massive August Complex of fires in northern California will soon exceed a quarter million acres. The Forest Service reported Tuesday morning the combined size of the fires had blackened 242,941 acres. Most of the completed fire line is on the east side, outside the Mendocino National Forest boundary, but there is also completed line on much of the south side of the Doe and Hull Fires.

The fires are southwest of Red Bluff and west of Corning, Orland, and Willows.

On Monday two large fires within the complex, the Glad and Tatham Fires, burned into and merged with the largest fire, the Doe Fire.

A firefighter was killed in a vehicle accident on the fire Monday, August 31.

There were strong northeast winds on the Complex in the middle of the day Monday which increased fire activity in the area. There is a potential for the same weather and fire behavior Tuesday.

The number of resources assigned to the fire include 11 hand crews, 3 camp crews, 7 helicopters, 51 engines, 18 dozers, 25 water tenders, and 3 masticators for a total of 690 personnel. Considering the size, those numbers are not large.

August Complex of fires, August 18, 2020. InciWeb.

Firefighter killed while working on northern California wildfire

Bill GabbertSeptember 1, 2020September 2, 2020WildfireCalifornia, lodd1 Comment

September 1, 2020 | 3:09 p.m. PDT

Diana Jones Cresson Volunteer Fire Department, Texas — Diana Jones (Photo credit, Cresson Volunteer Fire Department)

A firefighter-EMT from Texas died in a vehicle accident Monday August 31 while working on a wildfire in northern California.

Fox4 News reported the deceased was “…Diana Jones, a firefighter and EMT with the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department, about 25 miles southwest of Fort Worth. Her son was also a member of the department. Each summer, they would work with a company that contracts with the federal government to respond to wildfires in western states.”

A statement from the Mendocino National Forest said two additional firefighters were involved in the accident; one is receiving medical attention for burns to their hand and arm, while the third received no injuries.

The Press Democrat reported that Ms. Jones was widowed and lived in Cresson, Texas. She had been with the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department about five years.

KQED reported Cresson Fire Chief Ron Becker said Tuesday the community was stunned by news of Ms. Jones’ death.

“We’re all numb. We’re shell-shocked. She’ll be sorely missed,” Becker said.

The firefighters were working on the Tatham Fire, part of the August Complex of fires southwest of Red Bluff, when the vehicle accident occurred.

The Cresson Volunteer Fire Department wrote on their Facebook page, “Our department is numbed by the news and we are hurting.”

“This was a tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the fallen firefighter,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Sandra Moore. “Right now we are committed to providing support to those involved, while safely continuing firefighting operations.”

California Highway Patrol is currently leading the investigation. Forest Service officials, Federal Southern Area Blue Team Incident Management, and CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 are working to support the families, who have been notified.

The August Complex of fires has burned nearly a quarter million acres, 242,941, the Forest Service said Monday morning.

Our sincere condolences go out to Ms. Jones’ family, friends, and co-workers.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.

Canada to partially fulfill the United States’ request for firefighting help

Bill GabbertSeptember 1, 2020September 2, 2020UncategorizedAustralia, Canada8 Comments

Australia is considering it

Updated September 2, 2020 | 8:58 a.m. PDT

Early last week the United States requested help from Australia and Canada in battling the wildfires in California and other states. The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), asked Canada for four to five 20-person hand crews and requested 55 overhead personnel from Australia.

The three 20-person crews from Quebec will be arriving in Boise Wednesday September 2. They will receive a briefing orientation and participate in fire shelter deployment training. After a one-night rest in Boise, the crews will fly to Reno, Nevada and board ground transportation to their fire assignment on the North Complex in California. The North Complex consists of numerous lightning fires being managed as one incident on the Plumas National Forest.

As for the status of the request for 55 overhead positions from down under, “Australia is on hold for now,” Ms. Cobb said. “They are assessing the need for the types of personnel being requested as our fire situation evolves.”

Australia is approaching the beginning of their 2020-2021 summer bushfire season.

From The Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

The ABC understands anyone who wants to go to California will have to pass strict health tests and age will be taken into consideration because of COVID-19.

Those who go to California will have to quarantine for two weeks when they return to Australia, which [Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council CEO Stuart] Ellis said he expected would play a role in deciding who goes.

“That needs to be factored into each (fire) commissioner’s consideration of their people’s availability,” he said.

“Not only will they be absent for the period they are in the United States, but they will also need to spend two weeks in quarantine on return to Australia.”

Queensland will not send anyone because the state is about to enter their fire season and Victoria will not assist due to the health crisis. New South Wales, the ACT, and Western Australia are considering their options.

The final decision is up to each state and territory, but Ellis said he is optimistic Australia will either meet or come close to the requested number.

California has asked for help to arrive by September 6.

It is possible that the fire authorities in Australia may be in a very awkward position. During their extraordinarily busy 2019-2020 summer bushfire season, the U.S. deployed more than 200 U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior wildland fire staff to the Australian Bushfire response.

Firefighters in Australia asked to travel to America could think they would be entering a more risky environment by accepting an assignment where the COVID-19 death rate is 21 times higher per 100,000 population — 2.63 in Australia compared to 56.12 in the U.S. The death rate in Canada is less than half of the U.S. rate, 24.75.

Australia and New Zealand sent 44 fire specialists to assist the United States in 2008, and 68 in 2015. They may have helped out in other years also.

The California National Guard and active duty soldiers from the U.S. Army are being mobilized for firefighting duty in the U.S.