COURTESY
CONCORD — On the morning of Friday, Aug. 10, a firefighting engine with two firefighters from the N.H. Division of Forests and Lands was deployed to assist with fighting the Mendocino Complex fire in California.
Classified as a Type VI engine, the vehicle has a minimum tank capacity of 150 gallons and can deliver as much as 50 gallons of water per minute when necessary. Mechanicals are located in the bed of a standard pickup truck, making it ideal for delivering water to areas difficult to access by larger firefighting equipment.
The firefighters and engine are scheduled to arrive in California on Monday afternoon, and are expected be on site at the fire for up to two weeks. If extended assistance is needed, the engine will stay on site and a new crew will be provided by NHDFL.
“Fires don’t pay attention to city, county or state lines, and neither does firefighting,” said N.H. Forest Protection Bureau Chief Steven Sherman. “Helping out is an important part of what we do, and we know that if we ever needed assistance, other organizations would come to our aid, as we are currently doing in Montana, Oregon and now in California.”
The Mendocino Complex Incident is comprised of two fires, the River Fire and Ranch Fire. Located half-way between San Francisco and the Oregon border, it is the largest wildland fire incident in recorded California history. The causes for each fire are currently under investigation.
Part of the N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Division of Forests and Lands protects and promotes the value provided by trees and forests. For more information about the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands and the work of the Forest Protection Bureau visitwww.nhdfl.org or call (602) 271-2214.
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