To some, having a boring job is no way to live, but the members of the California National Guard's 233rd Engineering Detachment (ED) firefighters wouldn't have it any other way.
While many California Guardsmen assigned to Joint Task Force 115 are tasked with providing direct support on fire lines throughout the state, Soldiers assigned to the task force's 233rd ED are staged at airports near the fire zones and tasked to provide emergency support to arriving aircrews.
"We're ready for any type of helicopter incident, as well as providing basic life support services should an injured person be brought in," said Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Esparza, 233rd ED team chief. "Fortunately, we haven't had to respond to an incident yet."
According to Esparza, his team works from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. They begin with a daily briefing, followed by performing vehicle checks, then they stage on the flightline and wait - prepared to jump to action at a moment's notice.
"Some people think it's boring, but in this line of work being bored is a good thing," said Army Sgt. Sergio Duarte, a member of the team.
Esparza and his six-person crew redeployed to the Monterey County's East Basin from the West Basin, near Big Sur, where he said the fires in that zone have been contained. They operate the Army's M1142 Tactical Fire Fighting Truck (TFFT), a fire fighting monster capable of delivering 1,000 gallons of water and or foam per minute via roof and bumper-mounted turrets.
Additionally, the TFFT boasts myriad rescue tools and medical equipment allowing the crew to respond to nearly any emergency situation. In fact, Esparza added heads turn whenever his crash truck rolls in.
"Our civilian counterparts are awestruck when they see our big green fire truck," Esparza said.
According to Esparza, the 233rd ED is conducting the same mission supporting the fire efforts that they would in any other deployed environment, adding that being away from home is the hardest part of the mission overall.
"We're Soldiers," he remarked, "but we also have families and it's tough to be away from them."
But despite being separated from loved ones, Esparza said he's excited at the opportunity to assist with the mission any way he can and added his team has enjoyed a great partnership with federal, state and local agencies also supporting the effort.
Other members of his team echoed his sentiments.
"It's a good feeling to be able to support the fires," said Duarte. "For me getting the experience is my favorite part."