By Rick Clemenson
The Times Union (Albany, New York)
Copyright 2006 The Hearst Corporation
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York firefighters arrived in Los Padres National Forest early today to battle volatile wildfires that have ravaged southern California.
Forest ranger Jason Scott of Gilboa and emergency management technician Bruce Knudsen of Amsterdam were among 19 wildfire specialists volunteering their services to battle the 2,500-acre Bald Wildland fire, approximately 80 miles north of Los Angeles.
Scott, 26, who grew up in the Catskill village of Margaretville, said goodbye to his wife of eight months, Shana, on Tuesday afternoon and joined the group at Albany International Airport on Wednesday.
He was expected to be face-to-face with the flames by this morning. The fire doubled in size on Tuesday, said Dave Brooks, fire management officer for the New York State Forest Rangers. Scott said he was told the blaze could grow another 2,000 acres because of dry conditions and the presence of chaparrals, brush plants whose leaves contain a highly flammable oil.
“It’s like pouring gasoline on a fire,” Brooks said.
This is the second wildfire for Scott. He was among the first group of U.S. firefighters dispatched to French-speaking Quebec last year, where communication was a problem.
Brooks said the Bald Fire will test the group’s firefighting skills and endurance.
They will be tasked with containing the fire by cutting off sources — trees and brush — that could fuel the blaze. And they are likely to be located in “extreme terrain” and heavily wooded areas for up to 24 hours straight at the beginning of their two-week deployment. Temperatures are expected to exceed 100, Brooks said.
Each firefighter will wear approximately 60-70 pounds of protective gear which includes fire retardant line gear, shelter, a tent and a sleeping bag.
Scott was more concerned about staying hydrated than any other possible dangers.
Awaiting the group’s departure from Albany on Wednesday, he recalled his mission in Quebec last year which included being airlifted by helicopter into fires with walls of flame that extended as high as 20 feet.
“It was the experience of a lifetime,” Scott said.
Asked what his wife told him before he left this time, Scott replied, “She said, `Be safe.’ ”