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Published on: 7/29/2008
Last Visited: 7/29/2008
Eureka Fire Chief Eric Smith announced Monday that four of his firefighters and an engine were sent from Eureka to help fight the Telegraph Fire near Yosemite National Park, which had scorched more than 26,000 acres -- more than 40 square miles -- and was only 10 percent contained as of Monday afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to reach into the 90s in the coming days -- with low humidity and afternoon winds -- making the effort difficult on the fire crews.Officials estimate about 2,000 homes are now in danger.
Smith said the Eureka engine and crew were sent down Sunday through an agreement with the governor's Office of Emergency Services, which has more than 100 engines within its fleet that are assigned to local government's fire agencies.The engines are used locally for reserves and, in return, the governor's office can call them out at any given time.
Smith said Monday that the state will pay his four-person crew that is being sent down, as well as pick up the tab for the overtime expenses it will take to cover for their absences.
"It really means we're assisting them and they're hiring us to do it," Smith said of the arrangement."It's a break-even proposition for us."
But that's not to say Smith doesn't have his concerns: namely that this is the
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fourth fire the engine has responded to this year, which is way ahead of pace.
"It's unusual for us to have responded so many times this early in the fire season," Smith said, adding that historically the peak season is late summer or early fall.
Because of the seriousness of this year's fire season, Smith urged North Coast residents to practice fire safety by keeping their properties clear of excess vegetation and debris and exercising common sense.
The Eureka crew will join more than 2,500 personnel and 250 engines battling the Telegraph Fire, which destroyed 12 homes and 27 other structures by Monday afternoon.The fire also caused the closure of Highway 140, the main road leading into the Yosemite Valley, and burned within 12 miles of the park entrance.
While Smith said deploying his crew down south places an increased demand on the department, he said the mutual aid system is well worth it.
"Mutual aid is all about paying it forward so that when you have your big disaster, someone is there to help you," Smith said.
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