Crews Respond to Fires Ravaging Northern California
Wildfires ravaging communities across California hit northern California especially hard.
California Conservation Corps crews are responding with all we have.
Nearly 200 Corpsmembers trained in wildland firefighting are digging lines and back burning – fighting fire with fire.
It’s just plain hot, gritty, and dangerous work. Fire crews put in 12 to 24 hour shifts working to protect property and infrastructure.
CCC Butte Fire Center crews 3 and 4 saved homes from flames burning in the the SCU Lightning Complex fire near Pleasanton.
Meanwhile, Stockton 1 crew from CCC’s Delta Center put in hard work over night this week cutting fire line and clearing debris on the Salt Fire burning in Calaveras County.
But it doesn’t stop there. More the 500 Corpsmembers are working the base camps – keeping thousands of firefighters from agencies all over the state equipped with supplies, food, and a clean place to just rest.
Since Sunday August, 16, the CCC has responded to 19 fire incidents across the state and continue to dispatch crews to base camps and wildfires.
CM Gilly Gilmartin Using Fusee to Help Back Burn
Riley Gilmartin uses a fusee to help burn grass along a hand line to keep the fire from spreading to nearby ranch homes.
Butte 4 Cuts Lines Ahead of Fire
Butte 4 cuts a hand line in dry grass as the fire nears a ranch home.
Gilly Gilmartin Lines Up with Fire in Background
Magalia Corpsmember Riley “Gilly” Gilmartin catches her breath after digging a hand line, while the Canyon Fire approaches from the south.
Butte 3 CM Ignites Back Burn
A Butte Corpsmember uses a drip torch to ignite back burn.
Butte CM Carefully Watches Fire
A Butte Corpsmember watches the back burn along the a ridge south of Tesla Road in San Joaquin County.
CM Watches Back Burn Succeed
A Butte 3 Corpsmember watches the back burn to make sure it stays within the fire lines in San Joaquin County.
Ranch Home Saved by Back Burn
Butte Crew 4 lights a back burn down in a canyon to protect a nearby ranch home.
Butte 3 Cuts and Hauls Branches – Edited
Butte 3 cuts up dead trees as part of back burn operations.
Butte 3 CM Ignites Backfire on Deer Fire – Edited
A Corpsmember from Butte 3 ignites a back burn on the Deer Zones Fire in Contra Costa County on Monday, August 17, 2020.
Back Burn Ignites in San Joaquin County
The back burn in San Joaquin County successfully reduces fuel ahead of the fire.
Stockon 1 Delta Fire Crew – Salt Fire 2
Stockton 1 fire crew worked over night on the Salt Fire in Calaveras County, where this Corpsmember cut up downed tree branches to reduce fuel for the fire.
Butte Crews Cut Line on Deer Zone fires
Butte Fire Center crews 3 and 4 cut a fire line by hand on the Deer Zones Fire in Contra Costa County.
dueling back burns-2
Two Butte crew 3 Corpsmembers use drip torches to ignite a defensive back burn to protect ranch homes near Tracy, CA.