Tahoe National Forest Sierraville Engine 361 firefighter and Willow Incident Commander Type 5 Trainee Krystal Benn officially called yesterday’s 1/10th acre Willow Fire OUT after completing a thorough patrol check today.
Yesterday evening, Tahoe National Forest Fire resources including E-361, Fire Prevention Patrol 61, TNF Truckee E-373 with assistance from Sierra County Fire Resources responded to the Willow Fire off of Willow St. in the Sierraville Ranger District’s Direct Protection Area (DPA). TNF Sierraville Battalion Chief 61 Shawn Burt initially took command of the wildfire that started from a commercial vehicle fire and spread into flashy grass fuels.
Willow Incident Commander actual, TNF Engine Captain 361 Adam Smith recounts, “Engine 361 and Patrol 61 knocked down the grass fire while additional firefighters from Engine 361 with Sierra County Engine 282 attacked the hay buildup around the PTO on the hay bailer that was smoking. TNF Engine 373 assisted with mop up to ensure the 100% containment and control of the wildfire.
The wildland firefighters on-scene from the U.S. Forest Service and Sierra County had previously trained together during the RT-130 Wildland Fire Safety Training Refresher instructed by TNF Engine Captain 361, Patrol 61, with E-373 earlier in the season and utilized the training and familiarity with each other’s incident response capabilities to successfully contain and control the fire safely and quickly.
Photos of 7.17.22 Willow Fire with TNF Sierraville Engine 361 on-scene
Photos courtesy of TNF Engine Caption 361 and Willow Incident Commander Adam Smith
