Personnel change out on Calaveras strike teams in NorCal fires

Throughout the 21 day committed length of a strike team, some personnel may have a need to return home. At which time the districts coordinate replacement personnel.

One such replacement happened today with a personnel change out from both Murphys FD and CalCo FD. The various districts will coordinate change outs for maximum efficiency use of vehicles, personnel and time.

A utility truck carrying the personnel headed to the July Fire Complex in Siskyou County and will replace personnel at the scene who will then return home. A carpool of sorts.

Currently there are two strike teams from Calaveras County on fires in NorCal.

2nd Calaveras Strike Team forming at San Andreas Fire - update 2:00 pm change to CFPD Crew

A strike team is forming with engines and crew from Bear Valley, Murphys, CFPD, CalCo, and Central Calaveras to deploy to Shasta to the Coffee Complex Fire.

Copper Fire will be sending strike team leader Chief Kovacs, Engineer Matt Sowell, Engineer Nick Maness Firefighters Ricky Molina and Lance Gunter. Molina and Gunter recently returned from a deployment on a strike team to the Sands fire in Amador on July 26, 2014.


Currently there are 14 fires burning statewide with 20 Office of Emergency Services strike teams deployed and 56 local government strike teams deployed.

This will be the second strike team sent out of Calaveras County. The previous strike team still deployed to the Day Fire in the Lassen Modoc Unit, was sent out 8-2-14. The team included strike team leader Scott Mullin  and engines from CalCo, West Point, Mokelumne Hill, San Andreas and Altaville-Melones.

Chief Kovacs assures that all local stations are covered as a formation of a strike team may not deplete local resources.

l to r: Firefighter Lance Gunter, Engineer Nick Maness, Chief Kovacs, Firefighter Ricky Molina.

Coffee Fire Complex:

Strike Team from Calaveras headed to Nor Cal fires

8-2-14
A strike team headed by Strike team leader Scott Mullin from San Andreas has headed out this am to the Day Fire burning in the Lassen Modoc Unit.

Engines from CalCo, West Point, Mokelumne Hill, San Andreas and Altaville-Melones.

The August 2, 2014 report for the Day Fire shows and increase of 156% from yesterday, total acres currently 11,500 with 15% containment. With expected containment unknown.

Stay safe firefighters!

CFPD part of strike team headed to Sands fire in Amador County

At approximately 5:00 am 7-26-14 Copper Fire along with Central, Murphys, Altaville and San Andreas were asked to form a Type III (wildland) Engine strike team to head out to the Sands Fire in Amador County.

Photo courtesy Vino Noceto Winery

Sand Incident Information:
Last Updated:	July 25, 2014 10:30 pm
Date/Time Started:	July 25, 2014 4:30 pm
Administrative Unit:	Amador- Eldorado
County:	Amador
Location:	East of Highway 49, 5 miles north of Plymouth
Acres Burned - Containment:	1300 Acres 20% Contained
Structures Threatened:	250
Structures Destroyed:	3
Evacuations:	Sand Ridge Road, Fresh Water, Burlwood, Morales Ranch Road, Vintage Trail, Upton Road, Twin Rivers Road,
Road Closures :	Sand Ridge Road
Injuries:	1 minor injury
Cause:	Under investigation
Total Fire Personnel:	500

Calaveras County proves its readiness for Strike Teams in and out of County

On Saturday May 17, at approximately 8:15 am a call came out requesting a strike team for the raging fires in San Diego County. Assembly began at 8:30 am and engines rolled at 11:15. 

Though the team was cancelled later in the evening, Calaveras had assembled a total of 7 engines to be sent; 5 on a Calaveras strike team and 2 to aid with a Tuolumne/Calaveras combination strike team.

Strike team leader Chief Kovacs of Murphys and Copper Fire briefed the crews of the Calaveras strike team. 

“The fire near Camp Pendelton, with a reduction of the Santa Ana winds and an onshore flow off the ocean, is heading toward large areas consisting of light fuels (shrubbery) that has not burned in over 25 years” said Kovacs. He also pointed to the erratic behavior of the fire including fire whirls and asked that each member of the team study their IRPG (Incident response pocket guide ) on the long drive down to reinforce their knowledge of fire behavior and fire weather.

Copper Firefighters back home - strike team cancelled

Apparently the fires in San Diego County are getting under control as our strike team was cancelled and arrived back home late last night.

Copper Firefighters head out on Strike team to San Diego Fires

In the early afternoon of 5-17-14 engines from Copper Fire, San Andreas, Murphys, Central, Calaveras Consolidated, Moke Hill and West Point headed out to fight the ongoing fires in San Diego at Camp Pendelton.

Engineer Nick Maness with Firefighters Doug Ungari and Ricky Molina led the convoy south, with CFPD Chief Steve Kovacs as Strike team leader.

Stay safe firefighters!

Copper firefighter Ungari to replace Bavarro at RIM fire

On Tuesday, 8-27-13, Copper firefighter Doug Ungari will report to the RIM fire to replace firefighter Eric Bavarro rotating out.

According to Captain Cantrell on 8-25-13 he had heard from strike team leader Chief Kovacs and that the team from Copper Fire remains "actively engaged in direct attack and structure protection. They are in good spirits."

2 Strike teams leave from Calaveras to RIM fire

2 Strike teams formed this morning at Copper Fire consisting of engines from Murphys, Central, Ebbetts Pass, Calaveras Consolidated, San Andreas, Copper, Moke Hill, West Point, and Angels to help with fire supression at the RIM fire just outside of Groveland.

Copper crew consists of Engineer Nick Maness, Engineer/Paramedic Matt Sowell and firefighter Eric Bavaro.

Strike team leaders are Chief Mullins from San Andreas and Chief Kovacs from Copper Fire.

In anticipation of heat related illnesses Paramedic Sowell packed extra IV bags.

Strike team to form at Copper Fire for RIM fire

Calaveras County will be forming a strike team to send to the RIM fire just outside of Groveland.
Calaveras Consolidated, Murphys Fire, Moke Fire, Angels Fire and Copper Fire will comprise the 5 engine team.

Fire is at 10,170 acres with 2500 structures threatened and evacuations in progress.

Copper Fire sends firefighters on strike team to Power Fire

Copper Fire sent out Engine 231 early yesterday morning, 8-7-13, with firefighters Jay Lange, Eric Bavaro and Doug Ungari to join with engines from Calaveras Consolidated, Murphys Fire and Altaville Fire Dept as a strike team to aid in the supression of the Power Fire in Tuolumne.

Keeping you in our thoughts firefighters! Come home safe.

Copper Fire sends strike team to Mariposa County

Strike teams from Calaveras County have been sent to the Carstens incident on Hwy 140 east of Mariposa this morning.

CFPD has sent a three team crew lead by strike team leader Chief Kovacs.

Copper fire will maintain full district coverage during this incident.

A strike team usually consists of five 3-man engine crews sent from one area for mutual aid support during a major fire incident. An three man engine is requested from agencies throughout the county until the county can man five engines. Copper Fire Chief Kovacs is the strike team leader for the Calaveras County team.