(ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA.) -- A blazing fire in Alameda County recently burned a total of 23 acres as of Tuesday, August 18.
Photo Credit: Incident Command Photography / Instagram
According to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the fire started at 7:05 p.m. on the evening of August 17. Firefighters from the CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit responded to the incident located at Interstate 580 East, north of Flynn Road, within the unincorporated community of Altamont.
By 7:54 p.m. on August 17, the fire had already devoured ten acres of land. The fire then quickly grew, spreading across 23 acres of land on the morning of Tuesday, August 18, according to a posted update on the official Fire.Ca.Gov website.
A combination of different machinery, equipment, and manpower was allocated to subdue the growing flames. Instagram posts uploaded by the CAL Fire Santa Clara Unit provided on-the-ground footage as well as aerial photos of the incident, showcasing the coordinated efforts between the Santa Clara, Alameda, and Livermore/Pleasanton firefighter units.
The post stated, “Rapid response, coordinated hose lays, and aggressive dozer and engine work paired with direct support from the air helped stop forward progress (...)”
The joint efforts between the agencies did extinguish the fire completely on August 18 at 9:39 a.m., effectively putting an end to the growing flames.
Photo Credit: Fire.Ca.Gov
While the firefighters from these agencies showcased preventive tactics and methods of extinguishing the fire, helpful public service announcements posted on their social media accounts also help aid in informing residents by educating them. This information serves as an important reminder to the public about fire safety.
Posts from the Santa Clara Unit relay tips and reminders, including safer times to mow the lawn, avoiding parking on dry grass, and ensuring tow chains are properly installed without dragging (creating sparks), for example.
Even the renowned Smokey the Bear made an appearance on the Santa Clara page using dance moves to teach people how to properly put out campfires. Going by the motto “One Less Spark - One Less Wildfire”, the CAL FIRE website additionally presents and offers programs specializing in fire prevention.
Programs such as their Fuels Reduction program, Vegetation Management program, and the use of Prescribed Fire are all aimed at optimizing resources to mitigate wildfires. The Fuels Reduction Program, for instance, focuses on removing overgrown vegetation through a variety of practices like thinning, pruning, and utilizing prescribed fire.
Photo Credit: Fire.Ca.Gov
“These efforts create breaks that change fire behavior, reduce negative ecosystem impacts, and enable firefighters to protect communities,” according to the CAL FIRE page.
Fire reduction specifically relies on the technique of using a controlled fire that burns growing vegetation, which reduces foliage and therefore prevents the spread of wildfires, such as the “Little Fire” that occurred in the nearby city of Sunol last month and burned 1,007 acres near a General Electric Power Plant.
Fires like the Little Fire, the Flynn Fire, and many others that burn across the Golden State are reminders of what firefighters continually face amidst growing efforts to raise awareness for the dangers of wildfires and their impact on the lands and homes they raze.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this article, please email me at yikaileau.w@lead4earth.org
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