How are Merced County fire, law-enforcement agencies helping with the Creek Fire?
Merced County fire and law-enforcement agencies have sent crews and officers to help battle the rapidly growing Creek Fire, located northeast of Shaver Lake in Fresno and Madera counties.
Merced County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Corey Gibson is coordinating law-enforcement aid from Merced County to help out at the Creek Fire. According to Gibson, roughly 10 deputies and officers were sent to assist with evacuations and another 122 to help with security.
Most of the resources came from the Sheriff’s Office, Gibson said, but the Merced, Atwater and Dos Palos police departments have sent volunteers as well.
“Everyone up there is a volunteer,” Gibson said. “We’re not mandating anyone at this time.”
Deputies and officers are working on 12-hour shifts, Gibson said, and he anticipates he may have to send more resources in the coming days.
“Some guys have said it’s hard to see and breathe up there with the ash and smoke,” Gibson said. “Guys have described it as ‘eerie.’”
The Creek Fire has burned more than 143,929 acres since sparking Friday evening, according to a Tuesday morning update from fire officials.
It has continued to grow in all directions under extreme conditions, particularly to the south and east, and is threatening additional communities in the foothills. Winds were expected to pick up Tuesday afternoon, and extreme fire behavior is still being observed with the critical fuels including timber and brush, and high temperatures.
Merced County Cal Fire and the Merced Fire Department also have sent resources.
Fire Chief Billy Alcorn is one of eight from the Merced Fire Department helping battle the blaze. Alcorn said the department sent one fire engine up on Friday and another Monday.
“There’s definitely a lot of fire activity,” Alcorn said. “With a lot of fire activity there is a lot of smoke and ash fallout. There’s also a lot of spotting that can start fires downwind.”
Close to 100 people who were trapped by the Creek Fire were rescued by U.S. Navy and California Army National Guard helicopters.
There are more than 14,000 firefighters deployed across the state as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire, with 305 water tenders, 297 crews, 197 bulldozers and 76 state aircraft.
According to Merced County Cal Fire Division Chief Jeremy Rahn, the county Cal Fire unit has sent personnel to the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo and Lake counties; the SCU Lightning Complex Fire in Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties; fires in Southern California; and the Creek Fire.
“We’ve called back personnel. We still have adequate coverage for Merced County,” said Rahn, who has been battling the LNU Complex in Napa County for the past three weeks.
This story was originally published September 8, 2020 at 3:05 PM.
