special operations
County Fire Hand Crews
Ready to Respond
In July 2012, County Fire announced the creation of the first County
Fire Hand Crew, dubbed Crew 40. The 18 person Hand Crew, comprised
of Paid-Call Firefighters who volunteered for this assignment, have
undergone rigorous training including wildland fire behavior, advance
wildland firefighting tactics, saw and hand tool techniques, helicopter
operations, confined space awareness, structure protection techniques
and Haz-Mat responder functions. All members are Emergency Medical
Technicians (EMT) or first-responder trained.
Under the leadership of two full-time firefighters, Crew 40 is ready to
provide assistance and support on all incidents within San Bernardino
County, including vegetation fires, structure fires, floods, search &
rescues, and other all-risk incidents. A hand crew primarily fights fire by
cutting, chopping and scraping away vegetation with chain saws, axes
and other hand-held tools.
San Bernardino County Fire’s hand crew program continues to validate
itself, both on and off the fire line. The program has secured numerous
contracts with San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department
for fuel modification projects. Perhaps the most tangible indication of
Crew 40’s success is that is has spawned a whole new crew. In July
2014, a second initial-attack team, Crew 41, was placed in service.
A few of Crew 40’s recent accomplishments include a 42-mile hike from
Ft. Irwin to Barstow to support the Soldiers Home Charity; 217 parcels
abated for fire hazard abatement; numerous fuel modifications for San
Bernardino County departments; and initial attack on the Etiwanda Fire
and the Freeway Fire #1 and #2; several residential and commercial
fire overhaul/mop- up operations.
There is a need for a Hand Crew to be readily available within our
County at all times. Crew 40 and 41 will help meet this need and is
an additional County Fire resource of trained firefighters who are available to respond wherever needed in the County; providing additional
manpower not only to fight wildland fires but assist with any all-risk
department response. With near record-level draught conditions expected
to continue in Southern California, Crews 40 and 41 will be available
for this upcoming fire season.
Fire & Sheriff Partnership creates
valuable Local Resource
In 2013, Fire Chief Mark Hartwig and Sheriff John McMahon announced
a partnership between County Fire and the Sheriff’s Department – the
first County Inmate Hand Crew Program.
A Water Tender can hold up to 3,000 gallons of water, and
the ladder on a Tiller Truck can extend 100 feet.