New Jersey Forest Fire Service in CA
Photo by JOHN RIETHthe Crews from New Jersey Forest Fire Engine B44, and Engine T-5 Left to Right: Fire Observer Justin Sauers, Retired Division Forest Fire Warden John Rieth, Deputy District Forest Fire Warden John McKay, Retired Assistant State Forest Fire Warden Mike Achey, District Forest Fire Warden Chuck Calimer, and Fire Observer Mark Turnner. The photo was taken while in staging on the 40,000+ acre Line Fire on the San Bernadino National Forest.
Photo by JOHN RIETHEngine B44 shuttles water on the Bichota Fire on the Angeles National Forest.
Photo by JOHN RIETHCrews from New Jersey work on mop up on the Bichota Fire. John McKay, Mark Turnner, and Mike Achey are searching for hot spots or cold trailing on the mountain.
Photo by JOHN RIETHThe engines from New Jersey were assigned to structural triage and prep ahead of the line fire in the small mountain community of Angelus Oaks in San Bernadino County.
Photo by JOHN RIETHTaskforce 1601 staged at the Bichota Fire on the Angeles National Forest, LA County CA.
Photo by JOHN RIETHNew Jersey Engines were welcomed to stop by the Angelus Oaks Volunteer Fire Dept. for coffee and a quick break. This is one of only 3 volunteer fire stations in San Bernadino County
Photo by JOHN RIETHNJ crews patrol a fire line on the Line Fire on the San Bernadino National Forest.
Photo by JOHN RIETHThe Line Fire is blowing up creating it's own thunderstorm, which produced rain, and lighting, and strong winds.
This year, as well as almost every year starting back in 1973, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has sent crews and or engines on federal and or state assignments through out the Untied State of America. Out of 49 other US states, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has send resources to at lest 40 other states. Some of these request come from the Federal Wildland Fire Fighting regions, to assist on federal lands, some are requests from our Mid Atlantic Wildfire Compact, few are through FEMA, and a few are direct state to state request for assistance. From 1973 to the late 1990s. just 20 person hand crews were sent out of state, later engines were starting to be sent out of state. At one point apparatus were trucked across the nation to fight fires, starting in the early 2000s the NJ Forest Fire Service just drives them to their assignment. The longest assignments with engines include California, Washington State, and Oregon. In 2023, NJ Forest Fire Service Engines and crews operated in California, New Mexico, Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
In 2024, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service had an engine in Montana, and three in California. Every two weeks the crews are swapped out with a new crew. Two of the engines in California have been on assignment from the end of June until the at lest the end of September, and most likely will stay longer.
The photos included are from my trip to Southern California from the end of August to the middle of September. Two of 3 New Jersey Engines were on the same taskforce (1601) assigned to the Angeles National Forest in Los Angles and San Bernadino Counties. We responded to 4 fires, and were able to work with fire fighters from around the county, our taskforce included municipal engines from Colorado, and Utah. In addition, we got to work with fire fighters from the Angeles and San Bernadino National Forest, LA and San Bernadino County Fire Departments, as well as fire fighters from Highland CA, and Cal. Fire.
The Line fire turned out to be a major Wildland Urban Interface Fire, which at one point threatened over 30,000 structures, over 400 engines, 88 dozers, 60 water tenders, dozen of helicopters, 6 large and very large air tankers, and over 4000 fire fighters. Cal Fire Incident Management Team 3 took over management on the 3rd day. The taskforce that the two New Jersey Engines were assigned, was tasked to provide structure protection to the communities in East Highland CA. The fire blew into the community, and set fire to out buildings, fencing, landscaping, and out door furniture on or near dozens of homes. Later our taskforce was assigned to structure triage, and prep ahead of the fire in the small mountain community of Angelus Oaks in San Bernadino County.
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