California Need Forces Postponement of CCC Response to Texas Flood Recovery
More Than 500 CCC Corpsmembers Deployed Frontline of Fires, Building Base Camps, Keeping CAL FIRE and other Fire Fighting Crews Fed and Supplied with Equipment
Sacramento CA— California Conservation Corpsmembers by the hundreds are answering the call for support in fighting catastrophic wildfires raging across the state.
From building base camp for CAL FIRE crews to fighting flames side by side with CAL FIRE, the 18-25 year old Corpsmembers are engaged in a fight to prevent even more loss of property and life.
“It was unbelievable to see how the community was impacted. I have never seen such a populated area so severely affected,” said Richard Brandt who supervises a crew of CCC Corpsmembers responding to the Tubbs Fire that so far destroyed fifteen hundred homes and buildings in Sonoma County and killed at least 11 people.
CCC Director Bruce Saito says this 35 plus crews – more than 500 Corpsmembers – have been called out to help in this massive fire fight. “This is part of our Corpsmembers commitment to a year of service to the State of California- putting in long hours to do all they can to help minimize the fallout from disaster. It’s where our young men and women live up to our motto of ‘Hard work, low pay, miserable conditions and more,” said Saito.
At the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Corpsmembers responding to the Tubbs Fire are setting up a small city with parking lots, streets, tents, showers, bathrooms and kitchens.
On the Honey Fire in Butte County, CCC crews were on the front lines wielding chainsaws, shovels and axes to dig fire lines to stop flames from advancing.
In all, CCC crews are on the scene of seven fires and anticipate the demand to increase. The response is so strong that it is forcing the CCC to put on hold its plan to help Texas in its flood recovery.
“Dozens of corpsmembers were in the process of getting checked-out on hazmat gear and were packing for their trip to Texas when the call for supporting firefighting in California came in,” said CCC Director Saito. Many of the Corpsmembers headed for Texas were diverted to fire base camps across the California.
“Our hearts are with those who suffered losses in both Texas and California. We hope our work helps in swiftly bringing the fires in California to an end so that we can also send assistance to Texas,” Saito said.
About the CCC
The California Conservation Corps is a state agency offering young men and women a paid opportunity to improve California’s natural resources and communities. The CCC also responds to emergencies such as fires, floods, weather and agricultural disasters.
Created by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. in 1976, the CCC is the oldest and largest conservation corps in the nation.
The CCC has corpsmember openings every month for young adults ages 18 to 25 and veterans to age 29. For information on joining, call 1-800-952-JOBS or visit ccc.ca.gov