The Sunnyvale Sun
News
Sunnyvale firefighters helping in S. California
By Cody Kraatz
A Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety fire engine and a four-man crew left Oct. 22 to fight the Ranch Fire in Los Angeles County and the Witch Fire in San Diego County, and were on their way home Oct. 29.
The crew joined a five-engine strike team led by the Mountain View Fire Department, and was tasked with protecting homes and other structures. Sunnyvale resources could be called upon again if the fires worsen.
"They go out and triage structures and see if they're saveable," said DPS Capt. Doug Moretto. Local firefighters looked for a 30-foot perimeter of cleared brush with no overhanging trees, easy access and a noncombustible roof like tile. They use chainsaws or hand tools to clear trees or brush.
"If all these things are present, they stay at the house and protect it. If they can't do that as fast as the fire is approaching, then they write the house off," said Moretto. "They worked very hard."
About 20 fires were burning throughout Southern California when the Sunnyvale crew went down.
The Witch Fire, near Ramona, had burned 197,990 acres and was 95 percent contained on Oct. 29. Residents were allowed to go home, but 1,040 homes and 414 outbuildings had been destroyed.
Two civilians were killed and 39 firefighters were injured fighting that fire, which 2,340 firefighters worked to control.
The Ranch Fire had burned 58,400 acres and destroyed one home and 17 outbuildings by Oct. 29. All evacuations had been lifted ,and the fire had been stopped half a mile from Fillmore.
Officials there were waiting for rain, which was not in the forecast, before declaring that fire contained. The weather may not cooperate and a "wind event" was expected on the weekend.
PSD Lt. Carl Rushmeyer, officers Stuart Glasgow, Kevin Rego and Brian Wilkes went with the strike team. The crew, which usually protects Sunnyvale's east-central area, was replaced by a reserve engine. The cost to cities that provide mutual aid are reimbursed by the state.
The officers train in fighting wildfires twice a year at Baylands Park and in rural Santa Clara County with other fire departments. Urban firefighters who respond to mutual aid calls are often assigned to structure protection because it is their expertise, said Moretto.
