News Release

For Release: October 28, 2003
Contact: Jeff Fontana (BLM) 252-5332 or Leona Rodreick (LNF) 252-6605
SIFC 04-01

Northern California Crews Assisting With South State Fires

More than 400 firefighters and support personnel from Susanville Interagency Fire Center agencies have been dispatched to Southern California to assist in the battle against widespread, deadly wildfires.

SIFC officials said 21 fire engines, 16 hand crews, two helicopters and four bulldozers are on the fire lines in various locations. The personnel and equipment are from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Lassen-Modoc Unit, the Lassen National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and Lassen Volcanic National Park.

"We have our stations covered locally, but we are at resource drawdown," said SIFC's Larry Ault. "We sent all the resources we could to Southern California, and to a 1,700-acre fire at Whitmore, south of Shingletown."

In Southern California, the SIFC crews are joining more than 10,000 firefighters battling wildfires that have scorched more than 500,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,900 homes and killed 14 people.

Susanville Interagency Fire Center
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection o Lassen National Forest
Bureau of Land Management o Lassen Volcanic National Park