Shoshone fire crew returns from California
KELLOGG — “It was like a hurricane, but on fire.”
This was how several people described the Palisades Fire to Chief Scott Dietrich.
Dietrich is the chief at Shoshone County Fire District No. 2, one of many departments that answered the call earlier this month when fires broke out around Los Angeles. When he received the email from the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association requesting help, Dietrich asked his crew if anyone would be interested in a 20-day excursion to California.
Capt. Tyler Rotchford, Lt. Zeke Rindge and firefighter Cayden Zimmerman jumped in one of SCFD2’s fire engines and, along with Dietrich, made the trek to L.A.
Once they arrived, they were tasked with tactical patrolling of neighborhoods devastated by the fires.
Rotchford said their primary job was to identify, locate and manage hotspots so things couldn’t reignite.
The crew also assisted in clearing debris from roads, shutting off gas and water lines and helping people return to their properties and sift through what was left.
One family was desperately hoping to recover their grandmother’s Olympic medals. Unfortunately, they were unable to locate them but found the marble tiles on which they had been displayed.
This put into perspective just how hot the fires had been.
“Those houses burned so fast and so hot,” Dietrich said. “If it could melt or combust, it was gone.”
Coming across nothing but ruins and rows of standing chimneys became a common sight.
“You know, we respond to calls at home where we see one or two houses burn down,” Dietrich said. “But down there we would drive for miles and miles and everything was destroyed. It was unreal.”
More than 5,000 firefighters were assigned to the Palisades Fire. Including several from North Idaho. SCFD2 was part of a task force that included engines from fire departments in Paradise Valley, Selkirk and Timberlake.
“I’ve never seen that many fire resources in one location,” Dietrich said.
Working with so many different agencies and people was equal parts challenging and rewarding.
“We’re getting paired with other departments and apparatus that we don’t ever work with,” Rotchford said. “And then you have to go and complete tasks with a group that has never worked together before.”
“But it was great to have the opportunity to work with guys from Washington, Oregon and all over,” Rindge said.
While the expectations and subsequent reality of what they would be doing during their time in Los Angeles didn't align, the impact their efforts had on the people they interacted with made every second worth it.
“It wasn’t the most exciting work, but we did good work while we were down there,” Dietrich said. “We couldn’t do much for the people, but they were so thankful for the help and support.”