ByCody Kitaura, UC Davis
The UC Davis Fire Department and School of Veterinary Medicine’s California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) have been chronicling their progress and impactful contributions toward fighting the massive Park Fire, which has spread throughout 429,263 acres in Butte, Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties, and as of Aug. 14, 2024, is only 40% contained. The fire began near Chico and CalFire has determined that it was caused by arson.
Read on for the stories of the UC Davis first responders and veterinarians who are giving back to their local community through their bravery and expertise.
July 26
From the Shelly Fire to the Gold Complex Fire
UC Davis campus firefighters who had been battling the Shelly Fire in Siskiyou County returned earlier this week, and a few days later Brush Truck 34 was back on the road with a fresh crew, headed for another wildfire.
The returning crew,who had been away since July 9, comprised Capt. Kyle Dubs and Capt. Steve Dunn; and Firefighters Chad Cunningham, Gerrit Dykzeul and Meggie Elledge. They returned to campus Sunday (July 21).
The new UC Davis Fire Department crew left campus in the early morning hours Wednesday, headed to the Gold Complex Fire in Plumas County. They are Capt. Paul Rush; Engineer Ryan Tooley; and Firefighters Chris Hay and Cara Martinez.
They joined Capt. Cess Mercado, who left a day earlier to join the effort against that same fire as a strike team leader trainee.
The Gold Complex Fire was 3,000 acres and 11% contained as of this morning,Cal Fire said. It includes four fires near the city of Portola.
“For all four fires, they are growing rapidly due to winds, slope and dry fuels,” Cal Fire said. “There are structures threatened by all four fires, including the communities of Whitehawk Ranch, Clio, Gold Mountain, Delleker, Lake Davis Area and the south and west sides of Portola.”
July 27
The Park Fire calls
Personnel from the UC Davis Fire Department were reassigned Friday from the Gold Complex Fire to the Park Fire, which currently spans Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties.
The Park Fire began near Chico and is more than 350,000 acres with 10% containment as of today,according to Cal Fire. That agency said the cause of the fire was arson.
At least 20 structures have been destroyed, Cal Fire said.
August 6
1 firefighter returns
One member of the UC Davis Fire Department, Capt. Cess Mercado, returned to campus last night (Aug. 5) afterserving for two weeksas a strike team leader trainee in the response.
A separate UC Davis Fire Department crew, aboard Brush Truck 34, has been fighting the conflagration since July 24 and is awaiting news on when it will return to campus, Fire Chief Nate Trauernicht said. That crew is: Capt. Paul Rush; Engineer Ryan Tooley; and Firefighters Chris Hay and Cara Martinez.
Veterinary response
At the same time, members of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s California Veterinary Emergency Team, or CVET, have been on hand to help treat evacuated animals.In their first weekworking out of trailers at two shelter locations in Oroville, they treated 100 small animals and 64 large animals, public information officer Eunah Preston said.
They have also gone on two veterinary calls in the field and have transferred one animal to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
Their response has comprised seven CVET staff members and 32 volunteers from the School of Veterinary Medicine, California Community Animal Response Teams, Napa Community Animal Response Team, Sacramento Zoo and California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps. Those volunteers have included veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants.
“The number of animals requiring veterinary care in the disaster shelters has significantly decreased,” said William Burke, associate director of planning for CVET. “Advanced planning has begun to look at downscaling, demobilization and transfer of veterinary care to local resources in the near future.”
Along with Butte County Animal Services, CVET is working closely with North Valley Animal Disaster Group, California Animal Welfare Association, or CalAnimals; and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or ASPCA.
CVET was formed last yearand expanded the school’s previous regional emergency response — through the Veterinary Emergency Response Team, or VERT —into a program with statewide reach.
Evacuations in 2 counties
Cal Fire said this morningthat the fire was 414,000 acres — including 98,000 acres in the Lassen National Forest — and 34% contained.
“The fire is expected to continue to challenge crews until more favorable conditions arrive later in the week,” that agency said, adding that 640 structures had been destroyed.
Evacuations have been ordered in both Butte and Tehama counties.
August 8
New Crew Heads to Park Fire, CVET Wraps Up
Brush Truck 34 made a quick stop on campus yesterday afternoon before returning to the Park Fire with a fresh crew of UC Davis firefighters.
Returning to campus after reaching their 14-day deployment limit were Capt. Paul Rush; Engineer Ryan Tooley; and Firefighters Chris Hay and Cara Martinez.
The new crew starting a fresh deployment on the Park Fire comprised Capt. Kyle Dubs and Firefighters Gerrit Dykzeul, Emmet King and Shawna Mayo.
King and Mayo are two of the newest career firefighters with the department, Fire Chief Nate Trauernicht said.
Meanwhile, the School of Veterinary Medicine’s California Veterinary Emergency Team, or CVET, ended its response to the Park Fire yesterday.
“After completing the last treatments of patients under CVET, new veterinary needs will now be managed by Butte County Animal Control and local veterinary resources,” Associate Director of Planning William Burke said.
Over the course of two weeks, more than 50 volunteers logged nearly 2,000 work hours helping with CVET’s response, Burke said. Information on the total number of animals treated is forthcoming.
The Park Fire has burned 427,000 acres and was 34% contained as of this morning, Cal Fire said.
“The fire continues to be fought with a strong and coordinated response from all our partners,” Cal Fire said.
August 12
Incremental improvements
The UC Davis Fire Department sent an additional staffer to the Park Fire on Friday, Aug. 9. Captain Steve Dunn is serving as a strike team leader.
Meanwhile, Brush Truck 34 and its four firefighters could return to campus later this week, Fire Chief Nate Trauernicht said.
The Park Fire was 429,000 acres and 38% contained as of this morning, Cal Fire said.
“Incremental improvements in weather continue with slightly cooler weather and higher humidities are trending and will continue this week,” Cal Fire said. “Firefighters continue to construct direct and indirect lines for fire suppression in some areas as well as mop-up and fire suppression repair in others. Some parts of the fire are safe for repopulations while others are still in evacuation orders and warnings.”
