Home Contra Costa County East Contra Costa Fire Sends Strike Team to Fight California Fires

East Contra Costa Fire Sends Strike Team to Fight California Fires

by ECT

This morning at 3:00 am, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District sent Engine 53A as part of a strike team to join forces across the State of California to Napa and Sonoma County to battle the wildland fires.

For the District, this is the first time in more than a decade we have been able to participate as part of a strike team and mutual aid response.

“For many years, East Contra Costa Fire has been on the receiving end of support whether it be a structure fire, vegetation fire or the Mt. Diablo fire, it feels good to be able to reciprocate services to help other areas in great need,” said Chief Brian Helmick. “We hope our all firefighters battling fires across the state a safe journey and thank them for their service.”

CA Statewide Fire Summary. Firefighters are battling 22 large wildfires that have burned nearly 170,000 acres.

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8 comments

American Oct 12, 2017 - 9:55 am

It’s great to know we have an overage of firefighters that officials claim do not get enough sleep due to the high volume of calls. Maybe when they come back we can get a station reopened. Finding 6 extra million dollars and an excess of firefighters should make reopening a station a no brained.

Really Oct 12, 2017 - 2:48 pm

American, really??? Give it a break. After all the help others have given our broke $$$ district the least they can do is help others in need. Maybe you could use a nap

ECCFPD pride Oct 12, 2017 - 8:19 pm

American, have you ever asked a firefighter how mutual aide works? Do some research before you make decisions with innaccurate information. First, ECCFD does not have an overage if FF’s. Positions are predetermined through contract and agreed upon by the district and the union, trust me they would love to open another Station or two or three. Second, when firefighters leave for a mutual aide incident like this, CAL Fire reimburses the district for the cost. Including pay, wear and tear on fire engines, equipment AND the Firefighters that are covering the station in their home town. It’s a great financial benefit for the district. Not only that, the crews gain experience to bring back to the department. Unfortunately all this comes from a horrible tragedy. Third, when they come back they will go back to their previous assignments. They are not extra. When they leave, other members of the department step up and cover their assignment during their deployment. For those who are deployed their families pick up the weight to take care of the home front. Last but not least, there will always be problems, complaining never solves a problem although it does shed light on them. The true leader accepts the problem as a challenge and provides solutions. After that problem is resolved the move on to the next one.

Nick Oct 12, 2017 - 8:50 pm

Or a heart.

Joe P. Oct 12, 2017 - 10:01 pm

There are four firefighters working overtime to cover the spots for the four on the strike team. But that money will come back to the district from the cost of the fire plus a little admin fee is added on too.

American Oct 13, 2017 - 10:04 am

Really Nick ?
You missed the point. My comment has nothing to do with the tragedy in Santa Rosa. I have several friends that have lost their homes. My point is the ECCFPD rhetoric of the exhausted fire personnel, need of money, and the lack of personnel that endangers themselves and the public due to too much overtime calls. Also, closing a station because they say they are broke and then finding 6 million dollars they didn’t know they had speaks volumes.

Strike teams always get reimbursed.The issue and comment are directed to the leadership of the fire district that is irresponsible to us the community by sending resources from our understaffed and overworked firefighters right now. Con Fire has sent representation from Contra Costa because they are staffed well enough to do so.

So, if everything is ok here in east county, all I ask is to reopen a station again if they have extra personnel. If you or anyone can’t understand that, they have got you snowed and clueless.

Nap time Oct 13, 2017 - 1:50 pm

Take your nap American

Melanie Oct 13, 2017 - 11:38 am

American – This isn’t the time for your rants. This is the time for firefighters to help others. People are dying and losing their homes.

Comments are closed.