Routine turns into disaster

Published:

The Carr fire burned much of State Route 299 east of Trinity Damn Boulevard to Quartz Hill Road within the city limits of Redding.

The Carr Fire burned much of State Route 299 east of Trinity Damn Boulevard to Quartz Hill Road within the city limits of Redding.

Photo by District 2

By Denise Yergenson
District 2 Chief Public Information Officer

Another alert from dispatch about a vegetation fire alongside highways in District 2 seemed routine. What began as a small fire along State Route (SR) 299 soon turned into something no one in this area could have imagined. The new "routine" was unbelievable. District forces had just been through the Klamathon Fire in Siskiyou County in early July and the Boles Fire in the city of Weed in 2014 – two big and devastating fires – but the Carr Fire was going to prove to be the biggest monster for the Redding-based district.

On July 23, District 2 Dispatch sent the alert about a disabled car igniting a fire near Whiskeytown Lake on SR-299, west of Redding. By July 26, most of the west side of Redding (38,000 people, more than one-third of the city's population) had been or would be evacuated – many of those friends, family and co-workers from Caltrans. Battling their personal fear, displacement from their homes, and the possible loss of their property, the District 2 staff rallied and went to work keeping the highways open so the public would be safe.

The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated when it became evident that this fire was going to be a big one. At the height of operations, staff from every division were involved in some type of incident response. More than 45 Maintenance staff, with 15 vehicles, three cone trucks and two boom trucks staffed closures and helped fire officials get where and what they needed.

On Thursday night, at the height of the fire's destruction, Dispatch operations had to be moved from the District Office to Red Bluff, 30 miles south of Redding due to a power outage, and was operated by radio. Redding EOC members worked around the clock, even when some had no idea if they would have a home to return to when it was over, and with no power or air conditioning in the District office. The Public Information Office worked tirelessly to ensure word got out about road closures and alternate routes, attending incident command briefings and keeping everyone informed and reassured as much as possible. Social media blew up with questions and concerns about much more than road conditions.

The District 2 Tree Crew went to work immediately clearing and cutting any trees and vegetation that might pose a hazard to SR-299 travelers.

The District 2 Tree Crew went to work immediately clearing and cutting any trees and vegetation that might pose a hazard to SR-299 travelers.

Photo by District 2

State Route 299 is a vital route for travel and commerce between Redding and the coast and needed to be reopened as soon as possible. Before the fire was put out along the highway, Maintenance Engineering began assessing the damage and repairs needed to return the highway to safe working condition. An emergency order to replace guardrail, culverts, signs and redo new erosion control on the recently completed Buckhorn project quickly reached $21 million. As soon as possible, the Construction Division was out with contractor Tullis, Inc. of Redding and Caltrans Maintenance forces working to replace guardrail, remove burned trees posing a safety hazard to the traveling public, and restoring the road so travelers could return.

The Carr Fire grew from that small fire alongside the road to an inferno that blackened nearly 230,000 acres. According to Cal Fire, the Carr Fire has claimed a total of seven lives, including civilians and firefighters. A total of 1,077 homes have been lost – a dozen of them belonging to members of the Caltrans District 2 family. At the fire's peak, more than 110 employees were evacuated from their homes, and in true Caltrans family fashion, the district rallied around those in need and resources were made available.

This is just one of the fires burning in California, and, unfortunately, this is probably the new normal for the Department as we continue to work to keep the roads safe and drivable – even when disaster strikes. Caltrans employees work tirelessly, even in the face of personal loss and trauma, to keep travelers safe, restore the highways to safe conditions and keep California moving. Caltrans forces are the unsung heroes of these disasters, but as one Facebook follower said to us, "Thanks to you all for your courageous work and effort during this catastrophe. You are all priceless!"

Read District 2's newsletter (PDF) for more about the Carr Fire.