Each year thousands of acres of wooded land are consumed by wildfires.  To combat the destruction caused by these wild fires thousands of Firefighters join in the battle and millions of dollars are spent in fighting the blazes.  Most of the fires are set by mother nature by first drying the land and then igniting the forest with a lightning strike.

So far this year's HOT SPOT is in Idaho.  Two of the men of The Millville Fire Department dedicated two weeks of their time to help in the cause that has become an annual event for other men and women who have the know how, the time and dedication.  Firefighters from around the nation travel to wherever they are needed most.  They leave their homes, jobs and loved ones for a two week stint or longer.  Sure they are paid but working 12 to 13 hours a day in these conditions are certainly not a vacation.

Career Firefighter Dave Schoch and Battalion Chief Steve Alcorn of The Millville Fire Department left on Monday August 7th on a trek that took them over 20 hours of travel that brought them to Salmon National Forest in Idaho.  The trip included a breakdown of the state van and having to hitch a ride with a very accommodating sister company that gave them a lift to Philadelphia Airport.  

Steve & Dave joined up with other New Jersey firefighters and were members of an engine company.  The apparatus that they used had been trucked by low-boy trailer the previous week and will remain there as more New Jersey Firefighters are cycled in to the site.  Dave and Steve returned to Millville on August 21st.

Other Firefighters that traveled to Idaho with Dave & Steve were Chuck Hughes, Kenny Badger, Gerry Titherton, and John Valasek from our area along with over 1,500 other firefighters.  Base Camp was located about 8 miles from the main fire.  Individual companies were grouped off of the Base called Spike Camps.

The fire in Salmon National Forrest has been named the Clear Creek Fire.  One of the main objectives was to save an old mining town called Historic Leesburg.   Instructions were given that the town was to be saved at "all costs"

On Wednesday July 12, 2000 – The US Forrest Service issued a bulletin that the Clear Creek Fire had doubled in size from 200 to 400 acres.  The day Dave & Steve arrived in Idaho the fire had grown to 102,000 acres and continued to grow in spite of the fire service's best efforts to over 186,000 acres.  That is over 290 square miles.  To give you an idea of how big that is, the city of Millville covers 44.3 miles

A typical day started with a briefing and then the 12 or 13 hour work day started around 8 AM but at times was extended hours longer.  The company performed any of a number of duties on and off the engine including Moping up fires, lighting back fires or even directing traffic.

There are other major wildfires around the country such has Montana where many more New Jersey Firefighters have been going to join as "hand crews".  As the name indicates they fight the fire mostly by hand, ax and shovel.

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Historic Leesburg  - An old mining town.  The fire service was given orders to save this town from the wildfires at all costs.

Getting ready to set a back fire

Dave & Gerry heading off into the forest 

California Bar - The Firefighters in this picture are US Marines

Steve pulling hose - Yes he did work!

One of 15 Helicopters fighting the Clear Creak wildfire

A hand crew heading off to another area

These are the apparatus from New Jersey that were trucked out to Idaho.
C5, C8, and C48 a maintenance truck

The fire grows

The fire approaches

Fire Crew getting ready

This is one of the few sunny skies they saw due to the smoke in the air

 Great sunset with the US Marines camp in the foreground

Base Camp

New Jersey's "Tent Town"

Base Camp looking down from the mountain

Another view of Base Camp

This view of the Spike Camp shows the location of the New Jerse

Speaking of Dave, We mentioned above are some of the things that firefighters leave behind to fight these wildfires.  Here's one of the precious things that Dave left behind for two weeks.

Speaking of Dave, We mentioned above are some of the things that firefighters leave behind to fight these wildfires.  Here's one of the precious things that Dave left behind for two weeks.

This is Amanda.  Dave's one-year-old daughter.  I'm sure she was glad to her daddy when he finally got home. 

Not all the hazards were from fire.  A Headline from an article in today's Atlantic City Press: "Truck runs over 2 New Jersey firefighters at camp in Idaho" 
http://www.pressplus.com/content/tue/ojg49198.html