Grass/Structure Fire, City of Fairfield

[scannerboy02]

5 alarm grass and structure fire in the City of Fairfield, Solano County at 628 Parker Rd near Air Base Pwy. The smoke is viable on the KCRA Fairfield sky cam. We have two crews on the way to the scene and will be live when KCRA 3 reports at 5 and 630pm.

 

[scannerboy02]

FAIRFIELD, Calif. - A fire is burning on Travis Air Force
Base that has destroyed at least 23 structures.
Television reports from the scene say that many of the
structures are vacant homes that are scheduled for demolition.
The seven-alarm fire started as a grass fire at about 3 p.m. and
quickly spread to the base.
Fire officials in Fairfield and on the base were not immediately
available for comment.

 

[pfish]

Strike team out of Yolo County just requested.

 

[Gbcue]

7-alarm. I didn't even know it could get that high.

 

[joen7xxx]

I saw a reference to 8th alarm on Bayscan. No word of it on CHP CAD though.

 

[scannerboy02]

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A wind-whipped fire that destroyed at
least 80 vacant homes Saturday at Travis Air Force Base is almost
fully contained, officials said.
The eight-alarm fire started as a grass fire at about 3 p.m. and
quickly spread to an area of the base that contained a housing
development that had been slated for demolition. The fire did not
require the evacuation of any of the occupied housing on the base.
"The fire is estimated to be 80 percent contained and isolated
to the abandoned housing area," said Airman Kristin Rohrer in a
statement.
Air base officials ordered residents on the base to stay indoors
with windows closed in order to protect themselves from the smoke.
Air Force fire crews were aided by the Fairfield Fire Department
and others from the region.

 

[scannerboy02]

Release No.: 2
Date: 08-16-08

Travis personnel respond to fire
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., -Travis Air Force Base emergency personnel, with assistance from local fire departments, are still responding to a seven-alarm fire on the base that initially started adjacent to the base at approximately 3 p.m. today.
At least 80 abandoned housing units have been affected. The units affected were already scheduled for demolition and there have been no injuries.
Travis emergency personnel are working with local off-base partners to contain the fire and limit the damage. The fire is estimated to be 80 percent contained and isolated to the abandoned housing area. Fire personnel are going from house-to house to put out any remaining fire.
At this time there have been no evacuations of housing residents, but the Airman and Family and Readiness Center on base has been opened to assist any of the on-base housing residents if needed.
"We couldn't be happier with the support we have received from the local community. Their support has helped limit the damage and bring this fire under control," said Col. Mark Dillon, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander. "I think it is safe to say this is the biggest fire the base has seen, and all the work and exercises we have done with the off base agencies is paying off."
-30-

 

[scannerboy02]

Some viewer pics of the fire.

 

[scannerboy02]

Local and Travis firefighters defeat 8-alarm blaze

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Rapid response by firefighters from three counties assisted Travis’ Fire Department in defeating an eight-alarm fire that started adjacent to the base at approximately 3 p.m. Aug. 16.
“We had support from Napa, Yolo and Solano county fire departments which greatly aided us in fighting this fire,” said Travis fire chief John Speakman.
“We received outstanding assistance from these off-base partners that ultimately allowed us to get the fire under control and resolve the situation.”
Travis emergency personnel worked with local off-base partners to contain the fire and limit the damage. There were approximately 217 local and on-base firefighters involved in battling the 12.4-acre blaze. Two of those firefighters were treated and released after sustaining minor injuries while fighting the fire.
Approximately 190 unoccupied single units and 40 unoccupied duplexes that were already scheduled for demolition have been damaged or destroyed. Additionally, there are numerous homes without gas, but that is expected to be restored very soon. Currently power has been restored to all the homes.

 

[scannerboy02]

Local and Travis firefighters defeat 8-alarm blaze

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Emergency responders from Travis Air Force Base along with several fire departments from the local area battled through the night and into the morning to prevent an eight-alarm blaze from potentially spreading through Travis base housing Aug 16.
The fire, that initially started off base at approximately 3 p.m. was finally contained around 3 a.m. leaving behind hot spots that crews will work to extinguish over the next few days.
“Mayors Price and Augustine, Supervisor Reagan, on behalf of Team Travis’ 10,000 family members I want to thank you for the rapid response we received from the local community,” said Col. Mark Dillon, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander in a press conference held Aug. 17.
“Our on-base firefighters were joined by our emergency response partners from Fairfield, Vacaville, Suisun, Dixon, Cordelia, Benicia, Montezuma, Cal State, as well as several units from Napa and Yolo counties to prevent a potential disaster,” he said.
Emergency responders worked through the night and into the morning through high winds to keep the blaze contained and prevent further damage.

-more-​

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
“Something like this fire hasn’t been seen on an Air Force base before,” said John Speakman, Travis fire chief. “Knowing that they were all unoccupied houses made our job a bit easier so we could focus on preventing embers from hitting the occupied houses.”
167 units were destroyed and 11 were damaged. The units affected were scheduled for demolition that was expected to begin in the fall and be completed in December of 2009.
In total, there were approximately 220 on-base and local firefighters involved in battling the 12.4-acre blaze.
“The fire was the worst-case scenario in many ways because of the high winds and the length of time the homes had been abandoned. They became tinder boxes,” Chief Speakman explained. “So we worked to get the fire in the unoccupied houses out before it got to the occupied homes, the guys did a tremendous job out there.”
Event though many aspects of the fires were worst-case scenarios many positive things were highlighted.
Two very positive aspects with the fire were noted by Vince Webster, Fairfield Fire Chief. “First there is the incredible teamwork we share with the on-base fire department. Second, was the proactive weed abatement measures the base has in place to keep the undergrowth cut back that prevented the fire from spreading further than it did.”
Senior Airman Sherice Land, a Travis firefighter, received the call about the fire, dispatched personnel to the scene and then responded to the scene.

-more-​

“I provided exposure protection for the Youth Center,” she said. “We were hooked up to a hydrant and stood by to make sure embers didn’t reach the center.”
“We had units all around the perimeter of the fire, you looked to your right and your left and all you could see was fire,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua Isaacs, a Travis firefighter. “You couldn’t see five feet in front of you; but it’s what we train for all the time, training for the big time.”
Thanks to the teamwork of all fire personnel, the blaze was contained and prevented from spreading despite all the challenges.
“We have such a wonderful mutual aid partnership with our local partners. These assets made it possible to effectively fight the fire,” said Chief Speakman. “In addition, we also had security forces and medical helping out to make sure everyone was safe and healthy.”
“This fire turned into a huge win not only for Travis, but for our partners in the local communities as well,” said Colonel Dillon. “The combined efforts of all firefighters involved prevented a serious disaster from spreading further.”
Due to the lingering smoke odor, the Youth Center will be closed Aug. 18 and activities are arranged for the remainder of the week while the center is closed.
More information will be released as it becomes available.

 

[scannerboy02]

Air Force pics of the fire.