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Ken Gerald, left, Clint Remington, Kelly Jardine and Ryan McPherson, all of Arizona, are among hundreds of firefighters passing the time on Thanksgiving Day as they await a fire call in San Bernardino, as officials prepare for a return of Santa Ana winds. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) |
Once upon a time, Justin Hardison could plan on a three-month firefighting season. It never crossed his mind that he might not spend Thanksgiving at home in Lolo, Mont.
But a few days ago, Hardison and firefighters Jeff Stabio and Doug Knight got a call. Santa Ana winds were kicking up in Southern California, and they were needed -- again.
The three had fought the wildfires here a month ago.
They packed their gear and spent most of three days driving. They arrived Monday, not looking forward to a Thanksgiving spent on the oil-stained asphalt parking lot of the National Orange Show Grounds in San Bernardino.
Within miles was the San Bernardino National Forest -- one of the most urbanized forests in America.
Thanksgiving marked the latest point in the year that Hardison had been called out in his eight years as a part-time firefighter, and the trip meant his 2007 fire season would run for six months.
"I can't say if this is going to be the pattern," said Hardison, who works for A-1 Fire Service, a private wildland firefighting company in Lolo, a suburb of Missoula.
But "conditions are getting worse and worse. Things are getting hotter and drier," he added.
The guys from A-1 joined hundreds of others from across the Western United States who gave up their holiday to assemble to protect Southern California in case of fire.
Despite early morning fog, forecasts called for low humidity and gusting winds of up to 45 mph for today and Saturday.
So, stung by the raging wildfires of October, regional fire officials this week called down more firefighters and engines than they could confidently count Thursday, spreading them from San Diego to Ventura counties.
One big concentration was at the show grounds.
Resembling a tribal assembly, more than 300 firefighters came from across the West, trim and rugged, many with sunglasses perched on baseball caps, their department names and insignia across blue T-shirts.
They threw footballs and watched football on TV, they played cards and they planned strategy in a language all their own.
Mostly, though, they waited.
They lined their 62 engines, six bulldozers and nine water tenders in formation across the parking lot in a mobilization that included food, cots, toilets, showers, a medical clinic, an auto shop, a chainsaw-sharpening shop and television screens.
"It's a mix between an Arabic bazaar, a county fair and a family reunion," said Jim Wilkins, the San Bernardino operations center spokesman.
Firefighters came in from Mount Lemmon and the Groom Creek Fire District in Arizona; from Upper Pine River in Colorado; and from Fort Bragg and Oakdale, Calif.
The Zuni Hotshots, legendary Indian fire-line cutters, came in from New Mexico.
But a few days ago, Hardison and firefighters Jeff Stabio and Doug Knight got a call. Santa Ana winds were kicking up in Southern California, and they were needed -- again.
The three had fought the wildfires here a month ago.
They packed their gear and spent most of three days driving. They arrived Monday, not looking forward to a Thanksgiving spent on the oil-stained asphalt parking lot of the National Orange Show Grounds in San Bernardino.
Within miles was the San Bernardino National Forest -- one of the most urbanized forests in America.
Thanksgiving marked the latest point in the year that Hardison had been called out in his eight years as a part-time firefighter, and the trip meant his 2007 fire season would run for six months.
"I can't say if this is going to be the pattern," said Hardison, who works for A-1 Fire Service, a private wildland firefighting company in Lolo, a suburb of Missoula.
But "conditions are getting worse and worse. Things are getting hotter and drier," he added.
The guys from A-1 joined hundreds of others from across the Western United States who gave up their holiday to assemble to protect Southern California in case of fire.
Despite early morning fog, forecasts called for low humidity and gusting winds of up to 45 mph for today and Saturday.
So, stung by the raging wildfires of October, regional fire officials this week called down more firefighters and engines than they could confidently count Thursday, spreading them from San Diego to Ventura counties.
One big concentration was at the show grounds.
Resembling a tribal assembly, more than 300 firefighters came from across the West, trim and rugged, many with sunglasses perched on baseball caps, their department names and insignia across blue T-shirts.
They threw footballs and watched football on TV, they played cards and they planned strategy in a language all their own.
Mostly, though, they waited.
They lined their 62 engines, six bulldozers and nine water tenders in formation across the parking lot in a mobilization that included food, cots, toilets, showers, a medical clinic, an auto shop, a chainsaw-sharpening shop and television screens.
"It's a mix between an Arabic bazaar, a county fair and a family reunion," said Jim Wilkins, the San Bernardino operations center spokesman.
Firefighters came in from Mount Lemmon and the Groom Creek Fire District in Arizona; from Upper Pine River in Colorado; and from Fort Bragg and Oakdale, Calif.
The Zuni Hotshots, legendary Indian fire-line cutters, came in from New Mexico.
L.A. for less than the price of sunblock. 
