Read the June 2021 Issue
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HCL 6.21 MASTER SPREADS USE:Layout 1 copy 5/20/21 4:16 PM Page 1 Plumas, Lassen and Sierra Counties I On the cover: QUIRCUS page 42 INSIDE: Have some fun, join the Quircus! Firefighters go into the flames I Take a walk through a lava cave Music, hot springs in canyon hotspot Pen pals with prisoners offers rewards Farm fresh tasty recipes Eagle Lake opens for the season Changes coming for Susanville Farmers Market Published locally by Feather Publishing Co., Inc. HCL 6.21 MASTER SPREADS USE:Layout 1 copy 5/20/21 4:16 PM Page 2 This summer, have CONTENTS Burn simulator helps train FUN firefighters . .3 do your best to be High altitude farming . .6 Visit the Chester-Lake Almanor Museum . .10 Great ideas for a perfect SAFE Father’s Day . .12 and know we are Explore a lava tube . .14 Entering your talents at the county fair . .16 For two days in late April, a burn simulator was parked in the Susanville Walmart parking It’s garden time! . .21 lot offering training for local crews. Photo by Makenzie Davis HERE A relaxing trip to anytime you need us. Feather River Hot Springs . .26 Simulators offer firefighters High Country Real Estate . .29-33 hands-on experience Becoming a pen pal with prisoners . .34 By Makenzie Davis Learning to control [email protected] Eagle Lake opens for the season . .36 the adrenaline Big things happening for the n extremely volatile fire season Marc Murphy and Volunteer Captain Dan Susanville Farmers Market . .38 seems inevitable at this point. Weaver noted the importance of such Each lightning storm or windy trainings. Inside Quincy’s very own day carries risks we often don’t Not only do firefighters learn to trust their 24/7 circus: “Quircus” . .42 think too much about. On top of all gear in situations like this, they also get hands- physician staffed ER. that, the risk of structure fires on experience extinguishing flames, learning remainsA prevalent. fire behavior and learning how to control their Reducing fire danger with With good training, though, fire crews are levels of adrenaline. ensuring all our local volunteer firefighters are During the two training days in April, crews biomass utilization thinning .46 ready when the time comes. from all over the county and even some from In late April, a bright red trailer, dotted with neighboring jurisdictions like the McCloud Fire Celebrating our soot, landed in the Walmart parking lot in Department, pulled on their turnouts, ensured Susanville. Thanks to a grant from the the self-contained breathing apparatuses fit national emblem . .48 California State Firefighters Association, the snuggly against their faces and got to work. Susanville Fire Department acquired the burn With the simulator, new volunteers Honey Lake Valley Community simulator trailer from the Kelseyville Fire experienced rollover props, forcible entry District — a tool that helps younger recruits get props, couch and stove props, wall breaches, Pool eyes busy season . .52 a taste of fighting a live fire; of feeling the heat cold smoke and black out drills. On top of the from the flames in real time before duty calls. trailer, firefighters even practiced vertical 530.832.6500 File photo Susanville Fire Department Assistant Chief ventilation. EPHC.org • 500 First Ave., Portola High Country Life • June 2021 3 HCL 6.21 MASTER SPREADS USE:Layout 1 copy 5/20/21 4:16 PM Page 2 This summer, have CONTENTS Burn simulator helps train FUN firefighters . .3 do your best to be High altitude farming . .6 Visit the Chester-Lake Almanor Museum . .10 Great ideas for a perfect SAFE Father’s Day . .12 and know we are Explore a lava tube . .14 Entering your talents at the county fair . .16 For two days in late April, a burn simulator was parked in the Susanville Walmart parking It’s garden time! . .21 lot offering training for local crews. Photo by Makenzie Davis HERE A relaxing trip to anytime you need us. Feather River Hot Springs . .26 Simulators offer firefighters High Country Real Estate . .29-33 hands-on experience Becoming a pen pal with prisoners . .34 By Makenzie Davis Learning to control [email protected] Eagle Lake opens for the season . .36 the adrenaline Big things happening for the n extremely volatile fire season Marc Murphy and Volunteer Captain Dan Susanville Farmers Market . .38 seems inevitable at this point. Weaver noted the importance of such Each lightning storm or windy trainings. Inside Quincy’s very own day carries risks we often don’t Not only do firefighters learn to trust their 24/7 circus: “Quircus” . .42 think too much about. On top of all gear in situations like this, they also get hands- physician staffed ER. that, the risk of structure fires on experience extinguishing flames, learning remainsA prevalent. fire behavior and learning how to control their Reducing fire danger with With good training, though, fire crews are levels of adrenaline. ensuring all our local volunteer firefighters are During the two training days in April, crews biomass utilization thinning .46 ready when the time comes. from all over the county and even some from In late April, a bright red trailer, dotted with neighboring jurisdictions like the McCloud Fire Celebrating our soot, landed in the Walmart parking lot in Department, pulled on their turnouts, ensured Susanville. Thanks to a grant from the the self-contained breathing apparatuses fit national emblem . .48 California State Firefighters Association, the snuggly against their faces and got to work. Susanville Fire Department acquired the burn With the simulator, new volunteers Honey Lake Valley Community simulator trailer from the Kelseyville Fire experienced rollover props, forcible entry District — a tool that helps younger recruits get props, couch and stove props, wall breaches, Pool eyes busy season . .52 a taste of fighting a live fire; of feeling the heat cold smoke and black out drills. On top of the from the flames in real time before duty calls. trailer, firefighters even practiced vertical 530.832.6500 File photo Susanville Fire Department Assistant Chief ventilation. EPHC.org • 500 First Ave., Portola High Country Life • June 2021 3 HCL 6.21 MASTER SPREADS USE:Layout 1 copy 5/20/21 4:16 PM Page 4 For new volunteers, the experience was eye opening. Training builds When there’s a structure fire, the cooler air High Country Life remains near the bottom, getting hotter the higher up you go. confidence Crews are taught to stay low. June 2021 Near the ground of the simulator, the temperature was about 350 degrees and He encourages those hoping to volunteer to increasing to about 1,000 up top. As the teams The burn simulator, provided by the do their research and talk to others about the entered the trailer they crawled in, some on Kelseyville Fire District through a job — and it seems like some are joining their their knees and crouching to avoid the California State Firefighters Association local crews after the devastating fires that immense heat. As they maneuvered around grant, has a couch and grill prop for crews plagued the area in 2020. the trailer with heavy air packs weighing to train on. Photo by Makenzie Davis Last summer, when it seemed like the land them down, they aimed the hose as the never stopped burning, Roger wanted to do simulated couch and grill burned. another thing to talk to other people who something to help his neighbors and “It’s one thing to watch training videos, it’s have been through and experienced it, but coworkers. until you actually go through and see it first- When the agency started accepting hand, experience it first-hand, it’s completely volunteers, he jumped on the chance. different,” said Milford Fire District Volunteer “The first day was scrubbing engines, like Roger Torres. it’s not glamorous, but I feel like I’m doing Milford Volunteer Fire District was one of something. So that way, this year, when it all the participating agencies and had two new starts catching fire again, at least I know members participate in the live fire situation there’s a chance I can go and help instead of for the first time: Torres and Matthew Erwin. feeling helpless,” he said. “For the first fire, all the stress comes at And with trainings easing volunteers into once because you’ve never seen it,” Matthew the high stress world of firefighting, they are Susan River Canyon, looking said of the importance of trainings. “You ready. west, May 3, 2021. don’t want to be super stressed for the first Want to volunteer? Contact your local fire Photo by Joaquin Mann one.” department to start the process. There’s A fire crew prepares to enter the burn simulator — an experience that helps firefighters After the new volunteer experienced the extensive training, and hard work, but as learn about fire behavior. simulator, he noted how hot it was inside. Roger noted, he’s ready to help. HCL Photo by Makenzie Davis A free regional monthly magazine about the people, places and events in Lassen, Plumas and Sierra Counties. Published locally by: Feather Publishing Co. Inc. and the Lassen County Times Main office: P.O. Box B, Quincy, CA 95971 530-283-0800 or 530-257-5321 Cobey Brown, publisher Debra Moore, Plumas editor Sam Williams & Makenzie Davis, Lassen editors Cindie Williams, Robert Mahenski, graphics, layout and design For advertising information or CHOICE story ideas, call or email: Meats and Specialty Sauces, Rubs and Spices [email protected] or [email protected] Idaho Grocery 2120 Main St., Susanville • 530.257.2194 4 High Country Life • June 2021 High Country Life • June 2021 5 HCL 6.21 MASTER SPREADS USE:Layout 1 copy 5/20/21 4:16 PM Page 4 For new volunteers, the experience was eye opening.