VIDEO/PHOTOS: Fire season is in full swing, and Redding Fire Department members are ready to go. KRCR went on a ride-along out of Fire Station 5 on June 2 amid a red flag warning in the city, during which RFD administrators will increase staffing with some extra engines to get a leg up on possible new fires. RFD Fire Captain Cody Buick, Firefighter Ezequiel Polino, and Fire Engineer Grayson Hartman led the ride-along. Buick told KRCR fire season means the department has to be more prepared due to the potential for wildland fires.
โThatโs one more threat, one more type of incident that weโre going to respond to throughout the summer,โ Buick said. โWe have to worry about staying hydrated and not overexerting ourselves throughout the day so we have the energy for these sorts of incidents.โ Buick added, โWe have to be on our toes all the time. You never know what sort of incident youโre going to have.โ On a usual day at Fire Station 5, thereโs one engine with one engineer, one captain, as well as one firefighter.
Collaboration is key, with Buick telling the Northstateโs News that for any fire falling within one mile inside city limits, Cal Fire will send a response as well. In addition, for fires outside city limits within that mile, RFD will send a response to help Cal Fire. โWe have mutual interest in the fire not growing into the city or not into the county, so you just kind of rely on each other,โ Buick said.
