Tripod firefighters stop for lunch

Heavy fuel and dry, hot weather keeps fire going

MOSES LAKE — Staff at the Columbia Basin Job Corps in Moses Lake served lunches to 100 firefighters on their way to the Tripod Complex fire near Winthrop Thursday.

The firefighters flew into Moses Lake from the southwestern part of the United States to help battle the fire, which covered more than 230 square miles, the Associated Press reported today. More than 2,000 people were battling the fire

After grabbing lunch, the crews headed to the fire, which is contained in the western and southern portions of the 150,000 acre site. They planned to spend two weeks working 10-16 hour shifts.

Vladimir Steblina, of the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, said the fire moved away from Winthrop because of numerous fire-fighting efforts.

The challenge of the fire is the heavy fuel and the dry, hot weather.

"It's one of the largest fires in the nation now," he said.

Firefighters contain the fire by bulldozing vegetation around it or forming a burn line to keep the fire from progressing.

Priscilla Gilbert, a firefighter from San Carlos, Ariz., said she did not know exactly what she would be doing when she arrived at the site because the crew boss gives out the assignments.

When asked if the two-week trip away from home would be difficult, Gilbert said, "It's not gonna be hard. We did it before."

Justin Boeck, a crew boss from Big Ben National Park in southwest Texas, said his crew of 20 drove 11 hours to New Mexico, then caught an airplane to Moses Lake. The process occurred over two days, Boeck said.

"We've been able to get some sleep along the way," he said.

Boeck said his crew, the Los Diablos, is the only organized hand crew from Texas. Most have been in the group for 12 years.

"A lot of them are brothers and cousins," he said.

He said his crew is the 254th assigned to the fire.

A total of five crews landed at Grant County International airport in the afternoon. Crew bosses received briefing packets, including an action plan for fighting the fire and maps of the area. Firefighters grabbed their lunches and soon after climbed onto buses.

Bonnie Eagar, business community liaison for Job Corp, said staff at JobCorps fed firefighters on Sunday, Monday and Thursday, including 115 breakfasts Sunday. Staff made a total of 460 meals as part of an agreement with the USDA Forest Service, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests.

Eagar said JobCorps saw it as a great opportunity for community service.

"We're trying to do something to help," she said.