Support our local firefighters

As Lake County burns, Petaluma residents occasionally catch sight of the smoke, rising like a mushroom cloud off in the distance. Smoke from the closest of the many wildfires raging across arid northern California sometimes drifts over Petaluma, turning the sky a hazy orange.

These glimpses are as close as many Petalumans have come to experiencing this year’s exceptionally fierce wildfire season. But with fire resources across the state, and here in Petaluma, depleted due to the ongoing firefights, residents, especially those who live in the rural fire districts surrounding the city, are more impacted than they may know.

During major fire events, like the Rocky Fire in Lake County or the Wragg Fire in Napa County, Cal Fire takes the lead in the fight. Because of the state’s strong tradition of mutual aid, other agencies close to the epicenter may be called in to help. The larger a fire grows, the more firefighters are needed. In really massive fires, firefighters come from far afield and even out of state.

The Petaluma Fire Department sent two engines to fight the Rocky Fire in Lake County. San Antonio, Two Rock, Lakeville and Rancho Adobe have all sent equipment and firefighters to fight various fires around the state.

The Wilmar Volunteer Fire Department has had one engine - about one fourth of its equipment - out battling various fires since the end of July. Staffed with three firefighters from Wilmar and one from San Antonio, the engine first deployed to the Wragg Fire on July 22. On their way home from that fire, the strike team was assigned to the Lowell Fire in Nevada County until July 31.

Then, as Humboldt County lit up with 70 lightning-caused fires, they were reassigned to that fire complex, where they pulled 24-hour shifts.

A San Antonio Volunteer Fire Department engine was assigned to cover Cal Fire stations, since the Wragg, Rocky and other fires in the state have drained the state fire agency’s resources.

Thanks to mutual aid, we are still protected here in the Petaluma area. Having one engine out on assignment from the Wilmar fire department, which covers 14 square miles west of Petaluma with an all-volunteer force, could leave residents in the area vulnerable if not for Petaluma Fire Department and other agencies stepping in to cover their territory.

In this particularly volatile wildfire season, it’s important to be extra cautious to not spark a blaze. It’s also important to remember that, even though we haven’t had any major wildfires in our area, some of our firefighters are out there on the front lines doing heroic work. Our firefighting resources here, and across the state, are stretched thin.