Black Forest Fire Rescue returns from California fires

Firefighters from Colorado and across the country continue heading to California to help fight the fires.

A Black Forest Fire Rescue team was deployed on August 11 and returned last week.

“We had flames right up next to us and other days we were right there digging line next to flames,” Mike Cobb, Black Forest Rescue firefighter.

A six-man team helped battle the river complex fire in Northern California. More than 70,000 acres have burned.

“The fires are different just cause of the type of terrain that you’re going through. The trees are excessively larger then the types of trees we have here,” said Mike Skeldun, Black Forest Rescue firefighter.

Different scenarios, but fought using this fire engine from Black Forest. They used a type-3 engine, commonly used to fight fires. It’s part of an intensive training before the team deployed.

“Training in general is a week-long class that they have that goes over dynamics of training and a field day to complete,” said Lt. Rick Robirds.

When the Black Forest Fire happened in 2013, more than a hundred agencies responded and helped out, now the Black Forest Rescue team is returning the favor.

“When our community needed help and support we definitely got that from every place available and it was just great that our department was willing to go out there,” said Skeldun.

“I worked the Waldo Canyon Fire and Black Forest Fire so i’ve been next to bigger flame lengths then we had in California. With that training we had I wasn’t scared, I was prepared,” said Cobb.

A total of six firefighters were sent out; all have returned. Other agencies from Colorado are still out there.