PG&E Coworkers Rescue First Responders Overcome During Crystal Fire in Napa County

The phrase “it takes a village” could easily be applied to efforts by PG&E and first responders at a recent fire in the Napa area. On June 5, as temperatures soared into the triple digits, firefighters were busy battling what started as a 20-acre vegetation fire that quickly grew into a 60+ acre blaze. Members of the PG&E Safety and Infrastructure Protection Team (SIPT) had just arrived on site to begin pre-treating poles in the Crystal Fire burn zone.

Jerome Martinez, SIPT Lead, described the conditions that day. “The terrain was very steep and it was the first really hot day of the year. The wind was blowing hard and in the direction of the crews fighting the fire. As soon as we arrived on site, we checked in with the incident commander for the fire. After years of supporting fires, we have all built solid relationships with the first responders. They know that we are there to do our PG&E jobs, but also that we are there as an additional resource.”

As they were getting settled, the coworkers became aware of what’s often called “an incident within an incident.” Several firefighters in the zone were exhausted and experiencing flu-like symptoms. The SIPT coworkers were asked to stay at their location while the firefighters were brought down. As they waited, the incident commander received word that additional firefighters in the zone had fallen ill, making the situation more urgent.

The Cal Fire chief on the scene engaged PG&E’s Public Safety Specialist, Doug Ferro, and asked if PG&E could support by sending its SIPT engines into the fire zone to help extract the struggling firefighters. Martinez and his coworker, SIPT Tech Trent Ackerman, were asked to be ready to provide medical support to the firefighters as they were brought down.

“The ask from the IC was right in our wheelhouse and we jumped into action. This IC identified a need and were confident that we could fill it. This is what we do. What we were trained to do,” said Ackerman.

Members of SIPT crews go through extensive safety training as a requirement of their jobs. Most SIPT members worked for fire and other first responder agencies before coming to PG&E.  All SIPT members have EMS and EMT training and continue to keep their credentials up to date while working at PG&E. Martinez is a licensed paramedic.

“When we got up to the division where they were staged, other firefighters were bringing the injured men down. They were walking, but you could tell they were struggling,” said Ackerman.

Ackerman headed up the hill to help walk the stressed firefighters down the line and settle them in a shaded area where they could rest. The PG&E coworkers brought them water and provided medical assistance.

An ambulance came to the scene quickly and Ackerman and Martinez helped transfer care.

“The firefighters that we helped were grateful. I would say that they felt comfortable with the care that we gave. On site support like this is essentially part of our job,” said Ackerman. 

Martinez added that the officers at command post were appreciative that they could step in and answer the need, noting that, “SIPT personnel have always risen to the occasion. I’ve heard about vehicle accidents or safety incidents at a job site, where coworkers are quick to lend a hand. We’re used to falling right in and addressing the needs of the situation at hand.”

When the medical incident was over the SIPT coworkers went back to their regular fire duties. “We extinguished poles impacted by the fire, shuttled crews up and down the congested roadway and continued being a service to the needs of the fire crew. That’s just what we do,” said Martinez.