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October 27, 2007

Cal Fire Crew In Harris Fire Burn-Over; Story

 
SignonSanDiego has shed light on the story of the four Cal Fire firefighters and the two civilians they tried to save near Protrero during the initial attack phase of the Harris Fire last Sunday.

Veteran Cal Fire Captain Ray Rapue and his crew of three responded to the Harris Fire from their station in San Marcos an hour north of the fire. Firefighter Andrew Pikop and Captain Rapue are recovering from burns while their two (unidentified) crew mates remain in critical condition. Read the full story here.

From the article;

" Information about the firefight has been scarce. Cal Fire has a team of 15 investigating the incident, and everyone involved has been ordered not to discuss the details. But a picture of what happened is beginning to emerge.

Unit Chief Henri Brachais, the lead investigator, said the firefighters were trying to save Thomas and Richard Varshock, whose home is off state Route 94 and Emery Lane in a remote part of San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Thomas Varshock died. His 15-year-old son, whose hospital bed is down the hall from Pikop's, has burns to more than 50 percent of his body. On Wednesday, he was covered with a white blanket. His face was bandaged and he was hooked to a ventilator.

Brachais said the fire crew was stopped at the Varshock home when “a burn-over occurred.”

“The fire went up the hill and flames went over the truck,” he said"...

"...Engine 3387 arrived in Potrero at about 11 a.m. It pulled up to the Varshock residence about an hour later.

What happened next isn't entirely clear, but at some point all four firefighters and the Varshocks took cover in the firetruck.

By then, the fire was raging and Santa Ana winds were knocking down power lines.

“At first I wanted to help my crew get out, but once the fire blew up it disoriented me,” Pikop said.

Somehow he became separated from the firetruck. He heard his colleagues yelling his name, but he was running from flames and couldn't find them.

“I ran through flames. I ran from flames. But the fire caught up to me,” he said.

He figured he was on his own. He assumed the rest of the crew was dead...."

A Forest Service helicopter crew came to their aid and that pilot and crew deserve recognition. I'm sure what they will find is Captain Rapue did everything possible to keep this from happening to his crew and the Varshocks.

If you pray offer one up today for the injured firefighters and also one for the young Varshock boy. He lost his dad and his home.

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Posted by: retired cap mike: 8:15 AM


Comments:
Please say a special prayer for one of these injured firefighters. She is a mother with a small child and has a husband who is in the military. I have known her sense she was in grammar school as she was a friend of my kids here in San Diego. We have maintained relations with her and her family over the years and most recently a couple weeks ago she had gone out with my daughter to console her for missing her promotion as a firefighter by 1/2 a point. She is the sweetest girl I know and deserves another chance. She is in critical condition so if you could please pray for her and ask God to heal her wounds I'm sure he will.
Thank you.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : October 30, 2007 12:41 AM
 
Hi:

I thought your readers would like this:

New Firefighters "smart" Suit Will Save Lives of Rescue Workers
http://inventorspot.com/articles/new_firefighter_smart_suit_will__7712
\I could not find an email to send it to you.
Thanks for looking,

Michelle
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : October 30, 2007 5:38 AM
 
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