On Wednesday, July 24th, a car fire that started in a gully six miles outside of Chico exploded to become the fourth largest fire in California history.
Known as the Park Fire, flames quickly tore through Butte and Tehama Counties, burning more than 400,000 acres (as of this writing) and destroying hundreds of structures, according to Cal Fire.
PG&E Chico GC line crews on the scene at the Park Fire
More than 700 IBEW 1245 members supported first responders fighting the fire, working around the clock to clear vegetation, manage gas and electric lines, and harden or replace damaged infrastructure to mitigate risk. Withering heat of 100 degrees made the work all the more challenging.
Many of the workers live in the area, including Kade Barrie, an apprentice lineman from Chico GC.
“It’s honestly a lot. We go from working up here for a long time where it’s all lush and green … then (the fire) came through,” he said. “There was an antique store right here on the corner, and that’s obviously gone now.”
According to recent studies, the frequency and magnitude of extreme fires are growing not only in California but across the globe. Over the past several years, California has suffered a series of devastating and deadly fires, causing both public and private utilities and local, state and federal agencies to assess how best to mitigate risk.
IBEW 1245 members have been called upon repeatedly to work side-by-side with fire fighters and other emergency responders in the face of extreme fire events that have plagued California.
Tyler Palmer, an IBEW 1245 member and PG&E GC Foreman, shared that the Park Fire “has been one of the better ones. We…actually got to see some people come back to their house, which is not usual, especially nowadays with the fires.”
At the time of publication, the fire was 28% contained, and Cal Fire is bracing for threatened higher temperatures. If combined with lower humidity and strong winds, the fire could burst yet again.
The hope is that the Park Fire will be contained, loss of life will be avoided, families can return to their homes with energy restored safely and reliably, and first responders and 1245 members can return to their loved ones.
IBEW 1245’s Senior Assistant Business Manager Bob Gerstle declared, “Our IBEW 1245 members at PG&E take great pride in restoring the communities they live in. Their professionalism and respect for the safety of the public and each other make us proud.”
By IBEW 1245 Summer Intern Cole Gerstle & Sr. Advisor Eileen Purcell with photos by John Storey