Breaking News – August 20, 2020 We are now surrounded by fires to the North, South, East and West

Menlo Park Fire Protection District

We are now surrounded by fires to the North, South, East and West

Fire Chief Schapelhouman says “in my 40 years in the Fire Service, I’ve never seen anything like this before!

Menlo Park Fire District Fire Engineer’s Nick Marra (left) and Mike Seaton conduct back firing operations to burn out dead fuel in a steep canyon at the River Fire in Monterey County – Credit Menlo Fire

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District, provides critical fire and emergency services to its areas in the Town of Atherton, Cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, unincorporated San Mateo County and on contract to the SLAC National Accelerator and Laboratories. The Fire District has added 40 new Firefighters to its ranks over the last five years, replacing retiring members but also adding new personnel and fire units, that were needed to keep up with local growth and operational challenges. In total, the District has 100 Firefighters and was in the process of replacing its fleet of front line Fire Engines.

More Fire District Firefighters headed out the door Thursday afternoon/evening to protect the small Town of La Honda, located in San Mateo County, due to the CZU August Lightening Complex Fire. Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “I want to assure all of our residents that our primary responsibility is always their protection, all of our seven Fire stations are fully staffed. With the deployment of additional personnel, the Fire District now has 13 personnel (2 Chief Officers and 11 Firefighters) out on five different fires. We have fires to the North, South, East and West, we are essentially now surrounded by fires. Sadly, some of our own personnel and families have lost their homes, others are being evacuated. I’m sure a lot of people in the Bay Area could say the same thing. I’ve been in the Fire Service for 40 years, I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

River Fire – Monterey County – 33,653 Acres – 7% contained

Division Chief Ben Marra is the Strike Team Leader for five Type 1 (Heavy) Engines from Fire Agencies in San Mateo County representing Central County Fire (2), Menlo Fire, San Mateo Fire and Woodside Fire Protection District.

Since Sunday, the 20 firefighters have been doing everything from structure protection to back firing to active firefighting on the South side of this fire to keep it from burning into the agricultural fields.

Ben Marra is a 30 year veteran firefighter who manages the Fire Districts State/National Urban Search and Rescue Teams, four other Menlo Park Firefighters are also part of this Strike Team, including Marra’s own son, Nick.

The River Fire – Menlo Park Firefighter/Engineer Mike Seaton (left) and Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Brandt work to put out hot spots in the hills of Monterey County – Credit Menlo Fire

Dome Fire – Mojave National Preserve – 43,273 acres – 93% contained

Captain/Paramedic Matt Menard is the Medical Unit Leader for this fire. He is part of a specialized management team that is being re-assigned to another incident. Record breaking heat, COVID-19 and enough resources have all been challenging during this fire. He recently deployed to the July Complex Fire in Modoc County, only to return to duty and deal with a very violent triple stabbing that resulted in two homicides.

Deer Complex Fire/SCU Lightening Complex Fire – Contra Costa County – 85,000 acres – 5% contained

Firefighter/Paramedic David Kennedy is a new Fire Line Medic – Yesterday, he treated two severely injured civilians for burns on this fire

CZU August Lightening Complex Fire – San Mateo/Santa Cruz County – 40,000 acres – 0% contained

Battalion Chief Dan Coyle is the Task Force Leader for four off road pump and roll units from Menlo Fire, Redwood City Fire, North County Fire and Woodside Fire Protection District. They have been deployed to the Town of La Honda. Chief Coyle was a Task Force Leader for the Camp Fire and two Hurricanes that struck Hawaii last year. Three other Menlo Park Firefighters are part of this Strike Team.

LNU Lightening Complex Fire – Napa County – 131,000 acres – 0% contained

Firefighter/Paramedic Travis Hooper and EMT Scott Blandford were deployed this evening to this incident. Hooper just returned from the Hog Fire.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “we are prepared to send out one more Fire Engine and use our Drone Team for situational awareness if needed. Unfortunately, we have had to advise the State and Federal Government that with this many active fires in the region, our multi-agency Urban Search and Rescue Task Force is currently out of service until we can get these local fires under control”.

For more information from the Fire District please go to our web-site at www@menlofire.org: or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Next Door

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