The Park Fire blazing in California has been identified as the fifth-largest wildfire in the history of the state. In just under a week, the fire has ravaged over 383,000 acres, which is almost half the size of Rhode Island.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Cal Fire has reported a minimum of 15 active fires. Due to the limited number of available teams, firefighters from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service are among those lending a hand to support the firefighting efforts.
According to Chief Bill Donnelly of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the plan is to continue rotating firefighters until there are no more personnel or fires left to attend to.
This season, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has received the assistance of over 40 members, with many more stepping up in previous years.
Will Jubert, the Section Forest Firewarden, along with David Achey, the assistant state firewarden, and Larry Birch, a forest fire observer, have recently returned from their assignments in California. With their extensive experience in fighting wildfires, they are well-prepared to tackle any fire outbreaks that may arise.
According to Jubert, he has completed 25 assignments so far. Achey, on the other hand, mentioned that he has accomplished 41 assignments in total. Birch stated that his completed assignments are somewhere between 40 to 45.
Achey mentioned that they have frequently visited various places in Northern California. One of those places is the El Dorado National Forest. Achey recalled being there in 2003, and interestingly, they revisited the forest 21 years later.
Early last month, the state agency dispatched its initial crew and engine. Shortly thereafter, additional crews and two more engines were deployed to the area.
According to the NJFFS, the members they have dispatched to California thus far have not been involved in managing the park fire. However, these crews, who rotate every two weeks, have provided aid in containing the Apache Fire, Hill Fire, Flash Fire, and several other smaller wildfires.
According to Jubert, the residents are not concerned about one’s origin. Their primary focus is on the fact that you are there to aid them, and they are delighted to receive any form of assistance from the team.
Members may only receive a brief 24-hour notice before they are required to pack up and embark on a journey across the country.
According to Achey, even though their families have become accustomed to their busy schedules and constant phone calls, they still believe in the saying, “no news is good news.”
Achey pointed out that there are instances when cellphone service is not available in the area where we are situated.
These three individuals have a challenging job that requires both physical and mental strength. Despite the difficulty, they have a deep passion for their work and have no plans of stopping anytime soon.
Birch expressed his genuine fondness for providing assistance to those in need, stating that “helping people out is something that I really enjoy.”
According to Donnelly, the wildfire season has only just begun in the Western region. He stated that NJFFS remains committed to providing crews and equipment for the duration of the season.
At present, NJFFS members are providing their assistance in Montana.
