Firefight : Battling Wildland Blazes

Fighting a brush or grass fire requires an approach quite different from a structure fire. Southern California’s steep chapparal-covered slopes require methods of firefighting not often used in flatter regions. Firefighters battling blazes here are challenged by terrain, weather, the volatile nature of the fuel or brush and the high number of expensive structures in these urban/wildland interface areas.

Protecting the hills surrounding the San Fernando Valley is a joint effort of Los Angeles County and City fire departments and, in Angeles National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service. The county recognized as the brush fire specialist deploys more people on brush fires than any other department in the world. Its 11 camps are made up of a combination of prison inmates and paid crews.

Plan of Attack...

A typical wildfire response. Example: Browns Canyon, Chatsworth

Los Angeles City Fire Department receives dispatch call downtown. The computer recommends the closest units. A minute later, bells ring in designated fire camps and stations, where detailed dispatch sheets print out. The units deployed would be:

L.A. County Fire Department..

* 2 superintendents

* 2 hand crews of 28 juvenile offenders from Camp 15 in Tujunga.

* 1 hand crew of 14 County jail inmates from Pitchess Honor Rancho.

* 1 crew of 14 women inmates from state Dept. of Corrections camp in Malibu.

* 2 helicopters (1 from Sylmar, 1 from Pasadena) each with a flag crew of 16-20 people.

* 1 bulldozer

* 5 engine companies with 20 people

* 1 Tanker with 5,000-gallons of water.

L.A. City Fire Department...

* 5 engine companies with 20 people

* 1 ladder truck, with 6 people

* 2 battalion chiefs and assistants

* 2 helicopters for water drops

* Engine companies: First trucks in defend homes from approaching fire.

Hand crew...

The 14 person crew enter the site, strongest member first.

1. Chainsaw, 2. Bucker (shovel), 3. chainsaw, 4. Bucker (shovel), 5., 6. and 7. Pulaskis, 8 Bucker (shovel), 9.-13 McLeod (rake), 14. shovel, crew supervisor: shovel.

* * 1st-in crew: Cuts an 18-inch scratch line along edge of fire, just enough to hold fire so fighters can get by.

* 2nd-in crew: Cuts scratch line along other side of fire.

* 3rd- (left) and 4th-(right)in crews: Widen scratch lines to 3-4 feet, called a cold trail, facilitating access for hose men.

Helicopters: Used for water drops over fire and for letting off flag crew which cuts line where fire is actively burning.

Bulldozers: Used for indirect attack, cutting line up a ridge and clearing safety zone every 300-400 feet.

GEARING UP FOR A WILDFIRE

Firefighters wear following over their regular clothes (more layers means less burn):

* Helmet

* Goggles

* Shroud of fire-resistant material

* Jacket of fire-resistant Nomex material

* Pants of Nomex, a strong material that has wire woven in it. Chaps are worn by chainsaw men and buckers.

* Gloves, leather and other heavy material, are insulated

* Backpack holds gear, personal items and flares to light backfires

* Pack with emergency fire shelter tent

* Foreman’s pack also has compass, weather kit, flashlight, tape, first-aid kit and rope

* Boots are steel-toe

* Belt with 2 canteens of water

Tools of the Trade

The first crew members in use chainsaws to clear the way for the rest of the ground crews, who use simple but effective tools:

* Pulaski: Cuts with ax end and digs roots out with hoe or grub end

McLeod: Scraping tool used to rake on one side and hoe on other

Shovel: “Bucker” throws brush into burned area away from unburned brush.

Sources: Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Wildland Firefighting