Hi Glen,

Gonna have to assume you mean Engine S.T.'s (as opposed to Crews, Dozers, etc.). And to further assume your question addresses wildland fires resulting from your hypothetical quake. As the largest Fire Dept. in the Western U.S, operating 760 non-wildland fire engines, CalFire would certainly be a major part of any emergency response - as it has been for Loma Prieta, Northridge, and all other multi-agency incidents in the State.

There is no historical evidence for major earthquakes producing a major outbreak of wildland fires. But that is, perhaps, because few (none?) have occurred under the right circumstances (near a large wildland area, with heavy fuels, with significant fire weather occurring, and with ignition sources such as structures and power lines in the area). Loma Prieta happened during the late fire season (Oct. 17), when the fuels were exceptionally dry, and the weather was warm - though not hot in the late afternoon when the quake occurred. In addition, it was centered in the very heavily-vegetated Santa Cruz Mountains. IIRC, there were only a very few minor wildland incidents that day in the area, and they were extinguished quickly.

If the quake occurred during mid-winter, CalFire would most likely respond something like 10 or 20 structure-engine S.T.'s, and other equipment, to staging areas nearby immediately. If it occurred during particularly bad wildland fire weather conditions, it is impossible to say what the wildfire-specific response would be, due to lack of previous experience with that. I would guess a few wildland engine S.T.'s (from CalFire's total of 340 wildland engines) would be dispatched immediately (say 3 to 5) to staging areas, and you can bet personnel would be held on duty while the situation was being monitored! If there was an immediate outbreak of wildland fire, all bets are off! But I'd stay off California's major north-south highways!

For those other than Glen who might have read this far, a "Strike Team" is a grouping of (usually) five like-type resources, with a leader in a separate vehicle, which can be dispatched as a unit. Convenient for command and control purposes so that instructions are given to the leader, who then deploys his or her individual units to accomplish the task.

MW
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