Hotter Weather, Gusty Winds Confront Sherpa Fire Firefighters
With hotter temperatures forecast for this weekend there’s more concern about the health and safety of a small army of firefighters battling the stubborn Sherpa Fire west of Goleta along the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County.
Men and women from all across the state are working 24 hour shifts on the firelines trying to build a containment line in very challenging conditions.
As the southern flank of the Sherpa Fire kicked up Friday night above El Capitan Ranch burning closer to Highway 101, fire crews were on the lines trying to protect nearby homes threatened by the flames.
Back at the Sherpa Fire Incident Command Center at Dos Pueblos High School, the next wave of firefighters got their evening briefing from incident commanders along with some words of thanks and encouragement from local Congresswoman Lois Capps.
“Thank you for being here, thank you for putting your lives on the line, those of us who live here depend on you”, Capps told the firefighters at the evening briefing.
A Massive amount of bottled water, Gatorade, food and other supplies have been delivered to the Incident Command Center with more pallets and truckloads on the way.
Getting plenty of fluids to the firefighters is a paramount concern for incident commanders.
“We warn everybody”, says Scott McMann with the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire District, “we try to get everybody hydrated so they can work their hardest and stay safe.”
“When it comes to the heat, your sweating a lot and your losing a lot of fluids”, says Matthew Jacquez with the U.S. Forest Service, “we have to keep replenishing our waters.”
Firefighters coming down from the fire lines say its tough, dangerous work along steep hillsides, canyons and ravines filled with decades-old, tinder-dry brush.
“Its really tough, its not like anything you’ve ever done”, McMann says, “its hard physical work, and you want to do your best, you want to help people out and just work hard.”
Feeding the army of firefighters is a big job and requires a fully-staffed food operations center, kitchen and dining tent around the clock.
“Working on the fire does take a toll on your body”, Jacquez says, “you need to keep up on your nutrition and hydration and all that.”
Goleta resident Joan Barnett said she felt compelled to do something to thank the firefighters for their work.
“I heard there were 1200, I can’t bake 1200 cookies but at least I can bake some”, Barnett said with a laugh after giving a bag of cookies to some of the weary firefighters at Dos Pueblos High School.
