CA: CALFIRE TALKS WILDFIRE RESPONSE TACTICS
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MCCLELLAN PARK, California (KCRA) — With fires breaking out across Northern California, Cal Fire says it is prepared to respond quickly to protect lives and homes.
“The smaller we can stop it, the better. If we throw large amounts of resources and we’re able to stop it at one acre or less, that is good,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Robert Foxworthy, a public information officer.
Foxworthy explained that the agency’s strategy is to respond fast and hit fires hard to contain them as quickly as possible.
“Try and overwhelm those fires and get them contained, and that forward progress stopped as fast as possible,” Foxworthy said.
Last year, Cal Fire responded to approximately 8,000 fires.
“I can guarantee you most folks only know a few of the largest ones that occur, and that’s throwing resources at every fire start,” Foxworthy said.
At McClellan Air Base, Cal Fire reloads and dispatches aircraft to fight fires from above. The agency strategically positions its aircraft to ensure they can respond quickly when needed.
“They make it anywhere in the state within 20 minutes of dispatch, and that’s what happened at the Miners Fire,” Foxworthy said.
On Sunday, Cal Fire laid a fire retardant line on the Miners Fire in El Dorado County. Neighbors reported that it took Cal Fire roughly 15 minutes to attack the flames from above.
Cal Fire reminds residents to follow evacuation warnings and orders during fires so crews can focus on fighting the flames.
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