A Humboldt County Strike Team Heads Out to Battle Flames Destroying Homes in Southern California

Humboldt County Firefighters filling their vehicles before heading to the devastating Southern California Fires.

Humboldt County Firefighters filling their vehicles about 9:30 a.m. west of Modesto before continuing to the devastating Southern California Fires. [Photos by Thomas Norris–a neighbor and friend of this reporter.]

Early this morning firefighters across Humboldt were awakened by their pagers. The call for a Humboldt County strike team to do battle with the fierce fires raging over Southern California had arrived.

At 12:15 a.m., Thomas Norris, Assistant Fire Chief for Salmon Creek Volunteer Fire, received notice via his local government pager that a strike team was forming up and he was headed to the Southern California fires with the Miranda and Briceland VFD with whom he also works. But he hadn’t been asleep. Yesterday afternoon, he had heard the information that a strike team might be heading south. “I didn’t sleep at all,” he said. “We were told that we might be called out in the morning.” He spent time talking with other firefighters and preparing for family to take care of his home and animals while he was away.

The Richmond Bridge as seen from a Humboldt County fire truck headed south to the fires near Los Angeles.

The Richmond Bridge as seen from a Humboldt County fire truck headed south to the fires crowding in on Los Angeles.

He did attempt to sleep, but, he said,  “I got to bed around 11:30…Shortly after the pager went off for Miranda and Briceland.” He had only a few hours to prepare. The strike team was leaving Garberville at 0400 (4 a.m.) and he needed to be at the staging scene by 0215. On the strike team were volunteers from Briceland Fire, Blue Lake Fire, Miranda Fire, Fortuna Fire, and paid crews from Arcata Fire District. (All the fire personnel and their departments–volunteer or otherwise–are paid for this type of assignment by a mutual aid agreement with Cal Fire and the Cal OES.) In addition, there was a strike team leader from Humboldt Bay Fire. 

Over the last five days, Santa Ana winds have whipped wildfires across hundreds of miles of Southern California burning over 430 structures and sending 190,000 residents fleeing. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning–meaning that fire danger is extremely high–for the Los Angeles area through Saturday.

map red flag warning

Areas where red flag warnings have been issued. [Map from here]

The Humboldt County Strike Team is headed to the area to assist.

Diana Totten, Public Information officer for Briceland Fire, asks everyone to “keep these local firefighters in your hearts as they go to help save others from the massive destruction we see.”

Meanwhile, Norris and our strike team are heading into the fire zone. “Some of the guys are catching some sleep on the way there,” Norris said. But for him, “No, sleep yet,” he said.

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23 Comments
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G-MAS
Guest
G-MAS
6 years ago

May God be with you ALL! Be safe and watch out.Thank you for your service to help

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago
Reply to  G-MAS

I second this

Veterans Friend
Guest
Veterans Friend
6 years ago

Thank you & bless you. Stay safe, & return💖

Chuck
Guest
Chuck
6 years ago

Be safe!

Mom
Guest
Mom
6 years ago

This is where I grew up. Technically it’s Santa Ana winds, not Anna.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
6 years ago
Reply to  Mom

I grew up at the foot of the San Gabriel Mtn.s. saw a lot of chapparal burn over the years. Nobody called the wind Santa Ana. It was always”Santana”.

Veterans Friend
Guest
Veterans Friend
6 years ago
Reply to  Dave Kirby

Very interesting history of the word in wikipedia.
Check it out😊

Andrew
Guest
Andrew
6 years ago

Good job firefighters. Thankyou for the information.
Wonder why it’s not the top story on the big network news stations.
Hope we don’t get fires up here.

Buzzardsnest
Guest
Buzzardsnest
6 years ago

Bad asses!

Guest
Guest
Guest
6 years ago

Thank you for representing Humboldt in such a noble way. I hope that you can come home safely soon.

Stay aware
Guest
Stay aware
6 years ago

Interesting story . So as volunteers is this call optional? Or by committing to the vol Dept are they obligated to go if the govt fire agencies call? Either way, what dedication! I am commending the fortitude commitment and courage of our local fire fighters. And big thank u to everyone covering for them while they make this dangerous and important mission . Wishing everyone safe travels and work .

Lisa Barreto
Guest
6 years ago

Thanks to our Firefighters for going south they always represent well. Be safe and prayers and blessings on all the firefighters as they tackle this huge and dangerous job.

Lisa
Guest
Lisa
6 years ago

Be safe Tom and everyone you guys are the best. We are here for you if you need.

Steph
Guest
Steph
6 years ago

It is devastating down here. What makes me mad is there LA COUNTY FIRE guys that are not being held over to fight these fires. Have family that are on a volunteer department up there and have so much respect for all you do. The winds are dying down which is great news. So many fires this year. 😢

Melissa
Guest
Melissa
6 years ago

We saw your convoy as we were driving from San Rafael to Berkeley this morning. I did the math, and knew you’d had little to no sleep. We are thinking of you with gratitude. Be safe.

SurfCityGal
Guest
SurfCityGal
6 years ago

God be with you all, and thank you so much for your service!
So Cal is where I was born, raised and lived up until 6 months ago. So hard to watch the devastation without becoming emotional 😭.
Humboldt thank you, you rock!
Be safe!!!!

Andrew
Guest
Andrew
6 years ago

They are heroes!

Dyana Mitchell
Guest
Dyana Mitchell
6 years ago

Praying for the safety of these amazing volunteers.

Big louie
Guest
Big louie
6 years ago

Be safe and kick butt

Neal
Guest
Neal
6 years ago

It’s the Arcata Fire District, not fire department.

Stay safe!