California Conservation Corps plays part in fighting August Complex

California Conservation Corps Corpsmembers from Ukiah wrap the Post Creek Guard Station in foil to protect the 1934 built structures from the August Complex fire in Northern California. Photo courtesy of the California Conservation Corps.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Dramatic fire-retardant drops and massive water douses from helicopters are often the images shown of fighting wildfires like the August Complex.

And while those firefighting tactics are indeed a critical part of getting containment around flames, there’s also the gritty, marathon-like work going on at basecamps and on fire lines that most people don’t get to see. “Yeah 16-hour days. We wake up at the crack of dawn, before that even,” said Gabrielle Falaschi.

She’s one of hundreds of Corpsmembers in the California Conservation Corps who are either fighting fires or working the basecamps that deliver the support firefighters need to keep going. “As soon as I finished orientation (at CCC’s Delta Center in Stockton, California) we were out here. This is about our third week here.

It’s really great, working refir,” she said. Refir is short for the task of storing and distributing everything needing refrigeration at basecamp, whether it’s food or first aid. California Conservation Corps Corpsmembers and the […]

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