Fire Crew Continues Efforts

SAN BERNARDINO>> In July 2012, San Bernardino County Fire Department announced the creation of its first Hand Crew known as “Old Cajon” and since its inception, the need for a year-round Hand Crew has increased. Recently, the SBCoFD announced that a 15-member Old Cajon Hand Crew is activated to year-round duty and is available on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Old Cajon Hand Crew, formaly known as Crew 40, got its name from the "Old Cajon Toll Road" 1870 that ran from the fire camp 6 area in Devore up through the Cajon Pass on what later became the old Route 66 between the Angeles National Forest and the San Bernardino National Forest. Under the leadership of one superintendent and two foremen, Old Cajon will provide full-time year-round assistance and support on all incidents within San Bernardino County, including vegetation fires, structure fires, floods, search & rescues and other all-risk incidents as well as local fuel reduction projects. A hand crew primarily fights fire by cutting, chopping and scraping away vegetation with chainsaws, axes and other hand-held tools. Hand Crews play a vital role in recovery efforts during major flooding events, most recently in Forest Falls, Mt. Baldy and Wrightwood. They also support firefighting efforts during major structure and commercial fires. All Hand Crew members undergo 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 or first-responder trained. SBCoFD hand crews also participate in annual readiness drills which certify their abilities and qualifications. SBCoFD hand crews have become more frequently deployed during incidents over the last year in both wildland and urban areas. Hand Crews serve multiple roles in fire suppression as they can create firelines, defensible space, and conduct mop-up operations which improve efficiency and relieve firefighters and medic engines to return back to service. In addition to their year-round availability, Old Cajon Hand Crew is augmented by 12 seasonal hand crew members six months out of the year for a total of 27 members.