Idyllwild Fire Provides Critical Support During LA County Fires While Maintaining Local Readiness

In a Monday, January 13 letter, Idyllwild Fire Protection District Chief Mark LaMont provided an update on staffing and the district’s role in fighting this week’s catastrophic fires in LA county.

On the evening of Tuesday, January 7, Idyllwild Fire responded to many calls of downed trees blocking roads and highways in Idyllwild and across the San Jacinto Mountain Plateau. Several crews were dispatched to remove the trees and keep roads open for both emergency vehicles and possible future evacuations. Trees were also removed from outbuildings and other structures. This work occupied “nearly 30 hours straight.” Throughout this time IFPD continued to respond to its normal incident call volume.

That same evening, IFPD sent engines to three major fires in LA county, fed by “unprecedented hurricane-force winds”: Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst. LaMont said that throughout the week, IFPD, USFS, and Riverside County Fire Department remained “fully staffed and capable of answering emergency service calls here at home.” The three engines sent to LA are back home, although two Type 3 (woodland or brush truck) engines deployed as pre-positioned assets will remain in the LA area “until the work is done.”

With the return of mutual aid crews and deployment of “additional full-time and reserve staff,” LaMont said that IFPD was at 400% of normal staffing. Four IFPD engines were available for local incidents even during this busy week.

LaMont’s statement explained two types of collaboration IFPD engages in with other fire agencies, Mutual Aid and Automatic Aid.

“Your Idyllwild Fire Protection District personnel and equipment are proud providers of ‘mutual aid’ and honorably serve throughout the State of California as part of the ‘Master Mutual Aid System.’ The California Master Mutual Aid agreement provides for complete cost reimbursement for agencies that cooperate in the system. Likewise, a fire department requesting “mutual aid” assistance can ask for assistance without jeopardizing the safety of the community.

“The Idyllwild Fire Protection District also participates in ‘Automatic Aid’ response agreements with our neighboring fire departments, all of which are ready to reciprocate by sending a fire engine and other emergency response equipment and personnel to an incident within Idyllwild without regard to jurisdictional boundaries. This type of ‘Automatic Aid’ policy is not unique to Idyllwild, in fact it is found in nearly all fire agency response procedures, providing an incredible and lifesaving asset to all those utilizing such an assistance program. The overall cost savings to the annual budgets and funds available for additional personnel and equipment benefit all cooperating agencies as they each gain the benefit of personnel depth and additional coverage around the clock.”

LaMont concluded by reminding readers that a Fire Restriction Order has been in effect since June prohibiting outdoor fires of any type. Charcoal and wood BBQs are never allowed in the Idyllwild area. Propane BBQs and grills are only allowed with permits, which are free and available at IFPD. LaMont has also asked residents and visitors to refrain from using fireplaces and wood stoves whenever Red Flag Warnings are in effect. Local emergency information is broadcast on WNKI AM 1610. In the event of an emergency, including downed power lines, call both 911 and IFPD at (951) 659-2153.