Old mill site used for French Fire base camp

Aug. 06--While 1,695 firefighters battle the raging French Fire in the Sierra National Forest near Mammoth Pool, a 200-member support team is providing a variety of services from North Fork's old mill site, where 10-acres have been transformed into a command center resembling a small village.

Main Street (of base camp) is made up of about a dozen trailers housing for multi agency (including U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire, and county government) personnel providing services including planning, human resources, training, finance, medical, communications, public information, and accounting. About 20 EMTs, paramedics and supervisors are on site 24/7. To date, with the exception of some heat related issues, there have been no serious injuries from the fire.

Other services on site include showers, laundry, a fire engine fueling station, mechanics, porta-potties, and a large portable kitchen and refrigeration and food supply trucks.

The command center is set-up on the old mill site on Road 225 in North Fork.

North Fork Rancheria Tribal Chairwoman Elaine Bethel-Fink, said the base camp is using about 10 acres of land owned by the Rancheria and the North Fork Community Development Council.

"We're happy to be able to assist the firefighters by providing space here for their base of operation," Bethel-Fink said.

Although a few tents are at the old mill site, the majority of firefighters are sleeping in air conditioned classrooms and the gymnasium at North Fork Elementary School, with overflow bedding down in the Minarets High School gym. This week, refrigerated sleeping trailers started arriving -- trailers that can sleep up to 45 people at one time.

"We set up a small city and have everything you would need to support 1,500 people," said Matt Chambers, public information officer.

Part of that small city is a crew of 27 cooks and assistants working in five large trailer kitchens from Stars Catering of Santa Fe Springs.

Jose Sanchez, food unit leader for the Bass Lake Ranger Station, oversees the food operation that is feeding about 1,400 for breakfast and lunch and 1,500 for dinner.

"Each meal is about 3,000 calories," Sanchez said. "Lots of carbs and protein to keep these guys going. With this heat, a big priority for us with is keeping everyone hydrated with plenty of water and Gatorade."

Firefighters are going through about 8,000 20-ounce bottles of Gatorade and another 8,000 16-ounce bottles of water a day. By Friday, that will be a total of nearly 200,000 bottles of Gatorade and water.

In addition to serving the movie industry and sporting events, Dave Pena of For Stars Catering, said the company has contracts with many government agencies and private industries in the 13 western states.

So what's it take to feed breakfast for 1,800? Pena and his crew starts with 80 pounds of yogurt, 1,800 croissants, 1,800 assorted muffins and 160 pounds of fresh fruit. Then add to that 5,400 eggs, 700 pounds of hash browns, and 350 pounds of bacon.

Lunch provides about 900 calories and includes two large sandwiches per person (some made off-site by contract), beef jerky, tail mix, energy bars, and fresh and dried fruit. Again, plenty of fluids.

Last week, two dinners consisted of grilled chicken breasts, and pork chops with Alfredo fettuccine. Friday night Pena smoked 1,400 pounds of prime ribs to go along with 1,800 ears of fresh corn on the cob, and 1,800 baked potatoes.

Also assisting are 70 members of the California Conservation Corps, on hand to help distribute lunches, water and Gatorade, and help with garbage collection.

"Without them, this camp would not run as efficiently as it does," Chambers said.

Information Officer Hugo Patino added to the thoughts of Chambers.

"The most important people are the guys out there getting the work done to to get this fire contained and out," Patino said. "The support personal at base camp are here to insure that the firefighters on the from lines of this fire have everything they need when they need it."

Capt. Sean McCollough and his four-man crew on Engine 15 from Fort Hunter Liggett in southern Monterey County, rolled into camp at 6 a.m. after a 16 hour shift. The crew just made an hour and a half drive to camp from the fire. McCollough and fellow firefighters Danny Coelho, Shaye Edwards, Josh Trembath, and Jose Oroco, are part of a five engine strike team helping to hold a line on the fire. The crew was tired, hungry, and anxious to get showers and some sleep before their next trip back to the front line of the fire.

"We'll stay here as long as they need us," McCollough said.

Patino said everyone is very appreciative of the public support the crews are receiving from Mountain Area residents.

"Community members have dropped off donuts, cookies, water and other snacks here at camp."

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