Causing billions of dollars in property damage, wildfires have scorched the wooded areas of California; in the past three years, however, they have become more intense.
Droughts caused by a lack of rain create dry conditions in California’s wooded areas, the dry brush builds up and a stray spark, or cigarette butt set the area on fire.
During mid to late fall, the hot, dry Santa Ana winds, dry winds ranging in temperature from hot to cold sweep through Southern California, causing the fires to spread.
One of the worse fires occurred this year in L.A. county, where Capt. Ted Hall and firefighter specialist Arnie Quinones died Aug. 30, trying to contain the Station fire, when their fire truck went over the side of a mountain.
The fire was the largest in L.A. county history, and spread through more than 160 thousand acres and cost an estimated $90 million to fight.
The L.A. Fire Department had a memorial service for the two fallen firefighters at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 12. Students from the EC Fire Academy were present for the event
Students enrolled in the academy understand and respect the firefighters for the decisions they make, and the dangers they put themselves into for other people’s safety.
“You’ve got to make a decision to do things, to save other people’s lives, and that’s what they did,” Billy Schneider, business administration graduate said.
Chief Ken Mays, who works in fire and emergency technology, said that the students do special training to prepare for these types of wildfires.
“At our academy, we do 40 hours of wildlife training. In one day we go up to Malibu over the mountains and work with the wild land hand crew. Then we do a day trip where we go up to Palos Verdes up into the mountains and learn how to read fire conditions,” Mays said.
Mays also said that wildfires have become more frequent and happen more because California isn’t getting enough rain.
“Wildfire season used to be in the fall, after summer, but now wildlife fire season is year-round because we’re having a drought, and we’ve had a drought for the past several years,” Mays said.
In order to become enrolled in the fire academy, students must have successfully completed an emergency medical training certificate, and earn a certification in the basic life support program.
Though there have always been too many students, and not enough spots in these fire-training classes Mays said that the number of students has doubled.
“We’re seeing about twice as many applications into the academy than we have room for,” Mays said.
While most wildfires are naturally occurring, there have been some that have been caused by arson.
“You can tell when it’s arson when a fire starts where there’s no reason for a fire to start. Other signs of arson are when you find matches, flammable liquid and when you test the soil and find vapors and accelerates,” Mays said.
Some students in the academy, like Kevin Raimer, fire science major, are taking up firefighting as a second career. Raimer said he looks forward to his job because it will be a rewarding experience.
“I enjoy serving the public,” Raimer said. “I don’t want to go to some job that’s just about making money. I want to serve my community.”