Eric Jaramishian, Mountain Democrat

(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) Aug 13, 2022 — Little remains of a Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians fire crew buggy that burned Aug. 6 in the Six Rivers Lightning Complex in Trinity and Humboldt counties. Courtesy photo
A fire crew returned home safe last week after fast-moving flames of a lightning complex fire in the Six Rivers National Forest destroyed their firefighting equipment and two transport trucks Aug. 6.

In mere seconds Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Tribal Fire Department firefighters lost everything they brought with them to firefight. Burning in Humboldt and Trinity counties, the blaze is actually several separate fires sparked by lightning Aug. 5. More than 13,900 acres had burned with no containment reported as of Friday morning.

“I think what ended up happening is they had one little micro area where they were working and the temperature inversion lifted and that caused the fire to get enough heat on it to create its own little chimney and race up the hill very quickly,” said Dave Whitt, the crew’s chief.

Whitt explained that […]

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