Paul Ondr, Chief TFPD and Charles Smith, President TFPD Board of Directors.  Peak to Peak.

Since the creation of TFPD, we have been discussing and trying to implement a wild land deployment process. This process has proven to be more difficult and time consuming than anyone imagined. When I became TFPD Chief in 2017, one of my goals was to make deployments happen. This goal has required a huge learning curve for our department. The requirements of the process, including online CRRF agreements, IQS updates, ROSS availability, deployments procedures, equipment requirements, qualified personnel, etc. have presented challenges for our staff. Our department rose up to attain this goal and have successfully worked through all of the challenges. This year we have sent TFPD members on seven deployments and deployed a brush truck on 5.

Timberline Brush 53 with a crew of three fire fighters departed for the Butte County, California Camp Fire emergency Friday and after two days of travel, is currently in staging awaiting their assignment. Engine Boss Eric Abramson (Nederland Fire) along with fire fighters John Carder and Chris Samuelson (TFPD) are joining numerous wild land crews traveling from numerous states to assemble and work this massive fire. At this writing, more than 6,700 structures and 25 lives have been lost in what is considered to be the largest wildfire in California history. Brush 53 joins a company of over 500 engines, 85 fire crews, 23 helicopters, 79 dozers and 33 water tenders. Combined, there are over 4500 fire fighters working this assignment. More resources have been ordered and are en -route.

There have been 6,700 homes lost in a matter of hours! That number of homes exceeds the number of cabins in our entire district! Our local community fire fighters are not only getting valuable experience, but more importantly, they serve as a small part of a larger army of fire fighters needed to bring this monster of a wild land event under control.

While driving to the staging command to check in, FF Carder noticed a sign that said, “I lost my house in Paradise, CA. You guys stay safe. It is amazing to me how you can bring resources from around the county so quickly to get our job done.” – FF Samuelson.

Capt. Abrahamson reflected back to the Cold Springs Fire in Nederland and stated, “I would say that the most humbling thing about coming this far for a fire is that I am reminded how far people came for us.”

Timberline Fire has, to date, sent their members to various wild land assignments including the Carr Fire, Silver Creek Fire and the Ryan Fire. The combined number of hours deployed are equal to 2029.5 of training!

The type of tactile experience they gain from being “in the heat of wild land battle” is invaluable to your community volunteer fire department.

Firsthand experience is brought back to the department, shared with our membership and better prepares the department in the event of this type of incident occurring in our community.

The immediate benefits to your volunteer department include the following:

1. Recruitment and retention of volunteers.
2. Fire line experience.
3. Community preparedness.
4. Improved relationships with Ft. Collins interagency Dispatch.
5. Direct working relationship FMO Danny Escabedo
6. .

Timberline fire fighters all train in the basic 130/190 wild land course. The classroom studies combined with field training basics are just that: basics.

The department trains each year with every department member taking refresher courses and the annul pack test (45 lb pack - walking three miles in 45 minutes). National deployments at large scale incidents are generally a 14-day assignment. They eat, work, learn and sleep, in the fire ground elements. Unfortunately, the crews learn and hone their skills during events where there is loss of property, landscape, and in the case of the Camp Fire incident, life.

We ask that all fire fighters working this event stay safe and return home better prepared to protect their communities.

(Originally published in the November 15, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear. PHOTOS by John Carder.)