Local fire districts send joint team to Wye Fire

Local fire districts  sent fire engines and teams of personnel to help fight a fire in the Bay Area.

El Dorado County Fire District, Diamond Springs–El Dorado Fire District, El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Georgetown Fire District, Rescue Fire District and Pioneer Fire District sent five engines and a leader to assist with the 7,000 acre Wye Fire in Lake County, a press release from El Dorado County Fire stated.

The five engines met Monday morning at El Dorado Hills Fire Station 85, from where the group, dubbed the Strike Team, responded to the incident, the press release said. While en route to the base camp to receive their orders, the Strike Team came across a spot fire, a fire outside the control line. It immediately took action. Crews spent the rest of the night extending a fire hose 100 feet at a time up 4,000 feet of steep slope.

The Strike Team, according to the press release, could be assigned to the Wye Fire for a week or more, depending on fire’s needs. It is equipped with smaller fire engines, or “brush engines,” that are more maneuverable than larger engines. Crews could be assigned to do a variety of actions, including progressive hose lay as they did up the steep slope; mobile fire attacks with firefighters using a hose attached to the engine, running ahead and spraying water; hard line construction to stop the fire; or structure defense.

Bruce Lacher, chief of El Dorado County Fire District, said in the press release, “Although we have sent engines and personnel to assist with the Wye Fire, all of the local government fire stations are still staffed and ready to respond to any incidents within our county.” He also cautioned that residents of the county should maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures and to do mowing and weed whacking before 10 a.m. to reduce the risk of fires.

Cole Mayer

Cole Mayer started writing for the Mountain Democrat in early 2012. He has written news, features and opinions in the past, and currently works the crime, court and fire beat.

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