Thousands of IAFF Fire Fighters Fight California Fires

June 30, 2008 – Approximately 5,500 California fire fighters from at least 60 IAFF affiliates are continuing to battle the more than 1,400 wildfires sparked by dry lightening storms. Because of dry conditions, fire fighters are not expecting significant relief any time soon.

“Whether our fire fighters are out on the frontlines of the wildfires or staffing their hometown fire stations, our fire fighters are working longer, more difficult hours,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “As with past large-scale wildfires, the International is prepared to be on the ground to assist our members at a moment’s notice.”

Sacramento Local 522 represents six fire departments around the region. More than 70 of its members are working the wildfires. “From Local 522, we have 20 strike teams out on the frontlines and some members on the management side,” says Rick Schmiedt, president of Sacramento Local 522. “It is not uncommon for us to go operational so early in the season, but it is definitely not normal procedure either.”

The need for manpower is so great that small- and medium-size affiliates such as Bakersfield, CA Local 246, which has deployed three strike teams, are also affected.
“Some of these fires that are still going began before the lightening strikes,” says Derek Tisinger, president of Local 246. “Our members were fighting those, so we have not had full staffing here in Bakersfield for the last three weeks.”

To help with the enormous task of putting out all of these fires, fire fighters and other resources are pouring in from other states. But even with the influx of resources, the size and number of fires continue to drive huge shortages of engines and fire crews. Accordingly, fire fighters are forced to prioritize and focus on fires that pose the most danger to citizens and businesses. In fact, some fires are still unmanned.

The Blue Ribbon Task Force, a watchdog panel of fire service professionals first established in 2004 and revived after the 2007 Fire Storm, has renewed its call for California’s policymakers at all levels to provide for more equipment and personnel.

“The June fires prove, if we needed any further proof, that the fire threat isn't regional and it isn't seasonal," says California Professional Firefighters President Lou Paulson, who sits on the Task Force. "It's a 12-month, statewide marathon that gets more serious every year. If we're going to do our jobs to protect the citizens of the state, California needs to get real about this threat and do what it takes to protect the tens of millions who live and work in harm’s way."

While most of the state’s fires are concentrated in Northern California, the most high-profile blaze is burning along the Pacific Coast Highway near Big Sur, where more than 35,000 acres have burned and more than 1,300 homes are threatened. Only 3 percent is under control.

“The large fires remain uncontained because they are in heavy fuels and hard to reach locations,” says Bob Wolf, president of Local 2881. “Containment would be difficult under normal circumstances. But, I am proud to say that our members are holding up. Many of them are forgoing their annual vacations to remain on the fire line which is a credit to the work ethic of CAL FIRE as an agency.”

Fires are not the only threat. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration’s National Weather Service has said that the smoke from the fires has resulted in hazardous breathing conditions for California residents. South and southeastern winds are expected to continue to spread smoke over northern and central California and spread into Oregon and Nevada.

“Smoke has affected the air quality for the worse,” says Erik Baskin, president of San Luis Obispo Local 3523. “Even though we are two hours away from the closest fire, it was so bad here yesterday that it smelled like a campfire.”

Several fire fighters have been injured in this latest round of wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service fire outlook report notes “a common denominator” in fire fighter burn injuries and near-misses so far this season -- flare-ups that generally occur in “deceptively light fuels,” such as grass and light brush.

While no life-threatening injuries have been reported, the wildfire season has not been without tragedy. Newport Beach Local 3734 fire fighter Kevin Pryor died of a brain aneurysm shortly after returning from fighting the Humboldt fire in Butte County June 15.

President George W. Bush has declared a state of emergency for the entire state and ordered federal aid. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared states of emergencies in Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Trinity counties.