By Paula M. Felipe
Chico Enterprise-Record (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
OROVILLE, Calif. — Rapid, aggressive deployment of hoses by firefighters, coordinated air attacks and favorable wind directions are being credited for saving homes from a wildfire that burned 25 acres near Lake Oroville Tuesday.
The blaze broke out at 3:45 p.m. off Oro Dam Boulevard East, and firefighters had the fire contained by 5 p.m. Extensive mop-up operations were expected to last throughout the night, said Battalion Chief Russ Fowler of Butte County Fire/CDF, the incident commander on scene.
Four firefighters suffered injuries: Two were due to heat-related illness and the other two were ankle injuries. “One of the firefighters who had a heat-related illness and one with an ankle injury returned to duty after being treated,” said Butte County Fire/CDF spokesperson Janet Upton.
The fire burned to the top of the ridge at the north end of Palermo Drive, Fowler said.
“We began to consider possible evacuations, but decided they were not necessary,” Fowler said.
“The first fire engines on scene did a very good job and had an aggressive initial attack,” added Battalion Chief Mike Brown.
“Fire investigators have ruled out several causes of the fire and are focusing now on two possible causes: a vehicle malfunction sparking a fire along Oro Dam Boulevard or arson,” Upton said.
Two air tankers and one CDF helicopter made numerous drops of retardant and water on the wild fire.
Four 17-person inmate crews from Valley View and Salt Creek in Tehama County were called in to conduct extensive mop-up work, which was expected to last through the night."The fire crews will hit it (the extinguished, burned acreage) hard all night to make sure there are no hot spots that flare up in the night,” Fowler said.
Oro Dam Boulevard East was closed overnight from Glen to Canyon drives because traffic would pose a hazardous condition for the fire crews, engines, water tenders, and other apparatuses that will be on the roadways all night, Fowler explained.
“Be very careful this time of year,” Fowler said. “Some people think the nights are cooling down, but this is the worst time of the year for firefighters because the vegetation has been drying all summer long. No control burns are allowed, and people need to be extra vigilante and report any suspicious activity to the fire prevention bureau at 538-7888,” Fowler said.