This year’s Fourth of July put the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District to the test — and their crews met the moment with a record-breaking response.
Over the 24-hour period from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday, the district responded to 968 incidents, including 227 fire responses. By comparison, County Fire responded to 457 incidents, including 29 fires, during the same 24-hour period on June 4 — a striking illustration of how much the holiday stretched their resources.
The department’s Operations Branch anticipated the surge and had suppression assets staged in task force formation ahead of time, ready to respond immediately and reinforce emerging incidents as they broke out. Five task forces made up of hand crews, patrols, engines, water tenders and dozers were strategically positioned throughout the county, augmenting initial attack resources around the clock. A strike team of brush engines was also staged centrally as an additional layer of coverage.
Several vegetation fires ignited because of the illegal use of fireworks. Thanks to the department’s careful pre-planning and the dedication of our firefighters, no homes were lost.
The holiday weekend is a testament to what proactive planning and a well-prepared workforce can achieve under pressure.
