Valley fire crews sent to Corrall, Rim blazes

A Sonoma Valley fire crew and a Glen Ellen fire crew have been called up to aid in the Rim Fire, burning out of control in Toulumne County.

A second Sonoma Valley crew was sent to the Corrall Complex Fire in Humboldt County.

The Glen Ellen crew and water tender were called up at around 9:30 p.m. Friday. Glen Ellen Chief Peter van Fleet said Officer Jim Kracke, engineer John Bragg and firefighter James Molinar are staffing the water tender. Van Fleet said it was sent as a single unit instead of part of a strike team.

He said the crew was sent to Toulumne City for structure protection.

“I hope they get some experience and save some houses,” van Fleet said.

Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue sent its OES (Office of Emergency Services) engine out with Capt. Ted Hassler, engineer Gary Johnson and firefighters Bob Molesworth and Edwin Hidalgo on Friday night, also to the Rim Fire.

As of Monday morning, according to Cal Fire, the Rim Fire, which has been burning since Aug. 17, has charred almost 150,000 acres and is only 15 percent contained. Almost 3,700 fire personnel are fighting the blaze in what is described as “extreme” terrain.

The area charred by the Rim Fire is about the size of the city of Chicago.

Cal Fire said, “The Rim incident is expected to exhibit very large fire growth due to extremely dry fuels, strong winds and inaccessible terrain. Rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior are hampering suppression efforts.”

Sonoma Valley also sent a water tender and crew, consisting of Capt. Brian Cyr and engineer George Giles, on Saturday to the Corrall Complex Fire in Humboldt County.

Cal Fire reports that the Corrall Fire is in the Six Rivers National Forest east of the Hoopa Indian Reservation. It has charred more than 11,000 acres and is 5 percent contained.

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