Three fire battalions from Scotts Valley, Zayante and Felton fire districts have pitched in, working hundreds of hours in hot, dangerous conditions to help to get the Soberanes fire in the Carmel/Big Sur area under control.
Scotts Valley Fire Department’s personnel were: In the first strike team, July 22 through August 4: Battalion Chief Tim Theilen, Captain Pete Stelling, Engineer Andrew LoFranco, Engineer Luke Duncan, and Firefighter Travis Crivello.
Scotts Valley’s second strike team, August 4 through August 15, consisted of: Battalion Chief Delucchi, Captain Chris Stubendorff, Engineer Nick Owens, Engineer Andy Sundermier and Firefighter Brian Green.
According to Zayante Fire Chief John Stipes, Zayante personnel responding to the fire were Robert Stowell, Todd Kraft, Mallory Turner, Tim Stilwell and Joshua Clark
Felton Fire Department Captain Robert Gray said in his first crew were Captain D. Warren (Felton Fire), Captain M. Sanders (Ben Lomond Fire), Firefighter Z. Ackemann and Firefighter N. Scarpace (both from Felton Fire).
In the second crew were Felton Fire Department’s Captain S. Ackemann, Driver/Operator G. Steinbruner, Firefighter M. Shiler and from Boulder Creek Fire Department, Firefighter H. Cole.
Felton’s Captain Gray said, “It was difficult for our district to cover all the calls received during the three weeks while the manpower was gone to help fight the Soberanes fire.”
“There have been 12 Garden of Eden calls this summer – the place has gotten so popular,”he said. “Most of the calls have been for minor injuries but there was one death and one severe injury.”
