Others still on lines near where area firefighter died four years ago
 
By Joe Wolfcale
Marin Independent Journal

MARIN, Calif. — One weary strike team of Marin firefighters returned home late Sunday while more than 60 other firefighters remain on the line battling several stubborn fires in Southern California, Marin fire officials said Monday.

Marin fire Battalion Chief Mike Giannini said the remaining firefighters — with engines and equipment from Novato, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Ross and the county — are still battling the Harris, Witch, Santiago, Grass Valley and Poomacha fires.

No injuries have been reported, Giannini said. About 100 firefighters from Marin were dispatched to Southern California last week.

More than 500,000 acres have been burned, more than 2,000 homes destroyed and several hundred people still are in 11 shelters throughout the region.

"The biggest thing for us is the experience our personnel will glean from this event and how it will help us manage an event in Marin," Giannini said. "We'll have a fire here someday, and hopefully we'll be able to utilize those skills from down there when we have an event here."

On Monday, Novato firefighters gathered at the fire protection district's administrative offices on Rowland Way to honor two fallen Novato firefighters — Steven Rucker and former fire chief George Cavallero, who died of a heart attack in 1969 going out on a call. Cavallero died on his 51st birthday while responding to the fire that gutted the old Burdell mansion at what later became Olompali State Park.

Farhad Mansourian, then-president of the district's board of directors, said that the former chief made a habit of checking in at both of the district's two stations during his administrative tenure, much like a father checks on his children before they go to sleep.

Rucker died Oct. 29, 2003, protecting a home in the Cedar Fire in San Diego County. His family was in attendance Monday as were about 50 people for the annual remembrance, Novato fire Deputy Chief Eric Nickel said.

"This is the way to make sure their memories are never forgotten," Nickel said. "Some people gave words of thought or what they were thinking about. But more importantly, we want to honor the difference they've made in people's lives."

Nickel said Novato crews last week were given the option whether to go into the same area where the 38-year-old father of two died, but proceeded there to protect dozens of homes while fierce Santa Ana winds swept around them.

"I'm sure he'd be proud of our guys," Nickel said. "I think our guys know the lay of the land better than anyone. We've learned great lessons from our tragedy. We lived that; it's been part of our lives for four years now. I'm sure our crews have made a difference."

The typical Santa Ana winds, which fueled much of the firestorm last week, have died down, giving firefighters a leg up on the blazes in six Southern California counties.

Nickel said firefighting crews have learned valuable information from the Cedar Fire in 2003. New technology is helping firefighters get updated weather and wind reports and has made for better communications. Firefighters on the line are equipped with wireless laptops, satellite telephones, handheld global positioning systems and portable weather devices, Nickel said.

"We've learned some great lessons from down there," Nickel said. "In a lot of ways, Steve is still saving lives."

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