New Firefighting Handcrew on the North Coast

A new firefighting handcrew, Crew 22, was established on the North Coast when an agreement for firefighting was recently signed between the Six Rivers National Forest and California Conservation Corps (CCC) – Fortuna Campus.  “This increase in firefighting capabilities on the North Coast is now available to all emergency management agency’s locally, and can be mobilized for wildfires or other major emergency declarations anywhere in California, ” said Six Rivers National Forest Fire Chief Mike Minton.  When mobilized, Crew 22 meets nationally recognized requirements for firefighting handcrews.

The new 20-person handcrew is available and on a call when needed notice.  The handcrew is staffed with 16 recently trained firefighters from the California Conservation Corps – Fortuna Campus.  Four firefighters from the Six Rivers National Forest will provide leadership for the crew.   

 

The goal of both agencies is to have the handcrew ready and mobilized within four hours of any request.  “We’re very excited about this new partnership and look forward to supporting Six Rivers National Forest in protecting our public lands,” said Michelle Rankin, Center Director of the Fortuna CCC.  “This program greatly increases the opportunities for corps members who are interested in firefighting as a career.”  Working together, Six Rivers National Forest and California Conservation Corps plan to continue training and developing firefighter skills.  “We see this as only the beginning, and look forward to having Crew 22 as a member of the firefighting community on the North Coast for years to come,” said Forest Supervisor Tyrone Kelley.