SFFD & SFCFD Wildland Joint DeploymentOn July 7, lightning strikes started seven separate fires just east of Sandpoint, Idaho. The fires, now known as the “Trestle Creek Complex” continue to burn seven miles north of Hope, Idaho, in the region of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The fires are currently estimated at 5% contained, and are expected to continue to burn through mid-August.

At the request for help beginning with the Coeur d'Alene Interagency Dispatch Center, through the Northern Rockies Coordination Center, the Atalaya and Black Canyon Wildland Hand Crews, from the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County Fire Departments respectively, have been dispatched to assist.

The two teams began their deployment to Idaho early this morning (July14), and will travel to the incident command center at Sandpoint, Idaho. Once the teams arrive, they will begin working to mitigate the fires for at least the next two weeks, before beginning their two-day journey back to New Mexico.

With a total of 7 vehicles and 24 personnel, this is the first time in anyone’s recollection that the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County Fire Departments have been dispatched out of state for a joint wildland deployment.

Notably, the team of 24 includes a husband-and-wife duo, one from the Atalaya Hand Crew and one from the Black Canyon Hand Crew!

Working under what are expected to be above-average temperatures, the crews are replacing teams who are “timing out” of their deployment to the region. 

Contacts: For more information, please contact either Fire Prevention Specialist Jeff Folgate with the Santa Fe County Fire Prevention/Risk Reduction Office at (505) 995-6517 or Assistant Chief Phil Martinez with the City of Santa Fe Fire Department at (505) 231-3294.