Help FES make fire season short-lived

  • Published
  • By Merrie Schillter-Lowe
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - California spends more than a quarter of a billion dollars each year fighting wildfires, most of which occur June to September, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Last year, firefighters at Travis Air Force Base, California responded to 20 wildfires during that time frame, including 12 off base in support of mutual aid agreements with Solano County, according to Technical Sgt. Antoine Johnson, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron, noncommissioned officer in charge of fire prevention. They have responded to six off-base wildland fires since May.

“We do a lot of training on base to teach people what they should and shouldn’t do.  Our objective is to prevent fires,” said Johnson.

The 5-member team also teaches fire extinguisher classes, conduct random and routine inspections to ensure occupants of government and commercial buildings are practicing fire prevention and they hold monthly fire drills at the youth center, day care centers and elementary schools on base to ensure everyone knows how to escape a burning building, he said.

Despite the training, people still cause more fires than any other factor. 

According to the National Park Service, lightening and lava cause 10 percent of wildfires while humans are responsible for the other 90 percent by leaving campfires unattended, burning debris, negligently discarding cigarettes and intentional acts of arson.

Only the Boys Scouts can have an open fire on base and arson has not been an issue. However, discarded cigarettes have caused several major fires, Johnson said.  

“The two fires in the TACAMO (Take Charge and Move Out) area last year were started by cigarettes tossed from a vehicle. The fires burned more than 145 acres,” said Johnson.

Discarded cigarettes also caused a fire on Air Base Parkway and Walters Road July 1, which burned about 125 acres and prompted base officials to temporarily close the main gate.  The fire near the north gate July 5, which burned 40 acres of grassland and pastures, also resulted from a tossed cigarette, said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Grelck, 60th CES deputy fire chief. 

Grelck said fire prevention personnel are trained and certified to investigate fires, along with the Air Force Office of Special Investigation or a contract investigator.    

“I’ve seen an increase in the number of wildfires in the area since my first assignment here four years ago,” said Grelck, who recently arrived from an assignment in Colorado. He attributed the increase not only to carelessness with cigarettes, but also an increase in vegetation and the drought.

“People have the misconception that a rainy winter means fewer chances for wildfires but that’s not the case.  A wet winter, like last year, usually means more vegetation that can fuel a wildfire,” said Grelck.

Last year, some 68,000 wildland fires burned more than 10 million acres in the state. Those numbers are expected to increase this year since little rainfall is expected through October, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho.    

With the drought, the heat of summer and high winds in this area, wildfire can spread very quickly, Grelck said.

Anyone in an area of an approaching wildfire should immediately evacuate the area.  If evacuation is not possible, move in the direction of the wind. 

“The wind will be pushing the fire toward you so you want to get behind it,” said Chris Muriset, 60th CES firefighter. He said a person may have to drive through a smoldering area, but that’s preferable to being trapped by the fire.

Second to wildfires, base firefighters deal with structural fires which also are caused by people.

“Last year, we responded to 20 structural fires, including eight off base,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Hoh, 60th CES fire prevention inspector.  Under the mutual aid agreement, FES either fights fires with or backfills fire stations from Dixon to Vallejo, California.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 365,000 homes catch fire annually, resulting in 2,560 deaths, 13,275 injuries and $6.6 billion in property losses.  Although there have not been any fire-related deaths or injuries on base, there has been significant property damages.

One of the worst fires in base housing occurred in 2014 when a family left a candle burning in the bedroom.  That fire ignited and destroyed walls, electrical systems and most of the appliances.  “It’s taken a long time to restore that house,” said Mark DuPree Balfour Beatty Communities program manager. 

Unattended cooking and youngsters playing with matches or candles rank in the top 2 spots as the cause of house fires, Johnson said.  Residents dumping charcoals in the trash before they are completely cold runs a close second. 

Fire prevention requires everyone’s participation, according to Grelck. He offered the following advice:

·         Keep stove tops, hoods and grease traps clean.

·         Grill outdoors but not in the garage or under a carport, overhang or tree.

·         Keep vegetation low around structures and as far away from the house as possible.

·         Ensure working smoke detectors are placed throughout the house and on every floor of the building. 

In case there is a home fire, he said, residents should have an exit plan and make sure everyone in the family understands the plan and practice it regularly. 

Residents also should post a list of emergency contacts in a prominent place. If using a cell phone to report a fire, dial (707) 424-4911.

For more information on fire prevention, call FES at 424-4431.  For information on wildfire prevention as well as how to prepare for wildfire evacuation, visit: http://calfire.ca.gov/index.  For fire safety information, visit: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/.