Chelan Fire and Rescue firefighters are assisting in the battle against Southern California wild fires.
Firefighters Stephanie Preheim, Duke Odenrider, Brandon Fogelson and Capt. Taylor Rains are in Encino, Calif., and as of Friday, they have been on the fire lines for one week.
Cell phone towers have been damaged by the fires, but Capt. Rains, was able to speak with KOZI through a Starlink phone connection.
"You can view it on the television, but that does not do it justice," said the Chelan Fire Captain. "The fire, since we got here, has calmed down quite a bit."
Susceptible to wildfire, similar to the Chelan Valley, the Southern California terrain, winds and weather pattern is much different. East Santa Ana winds can blow fast and hot.
"California does have some steep and rocky ground," said Rains. "The vegetation is on another level of burn intensity, a lot more ten hour fuels that make for an intense fire behavior."
Chelan firefighters were originally assigned the first day on the line, Jan. 10, to Box Canyon, and what was described as a "case study" of fire behavior in regards to what firefighters practice to avoid.
"The fire behavior that we saw and devastation, there is no way to keep up with that with the spotting of the fire and the intense flames. " said Rains in recollecting what firefighters saw upon there arrival.
Capt. Rains said the best protection against wildfires in the Chelan Valley is to implement Firewise programs.
"Be proactive and preparing around your home, removing that vegetation and those trees," Rains recommended. "We can do a lot of good by having Firewise around your home and giving yourself a lot better chance of your home not burning down."
Chelan firefighters are on structure protection duty, looking for ways they can better protect properties in case the fire moves their direction, while bracing for the continuation of Red Flag warnings which may extend into next week.
"Californians have been immensely grateful," said a humble fire Captain. "It's very difficult to go anywhere and have them not try to pay for, whether your buying a coffee or something at the grocery store. Everyone insists on paying for whatever you're purchasing. We constantly get people stopping and thanking us."
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