Poudre Fire Authority Crew Returns Home After Equipment Breakdown During California Wildfire Deployment
A Poudre Fire Authority crew returned home by air September 18 after their specialized brush truck broke down near Reno, Nevada, while returning from a two-week deployment fighting wildfires in Northern California.
The breakdown occurred as the crew was traveling back to Fort Collins following their second deployment to California wildfires this season. The brush rig had been operating continuously for 14 days alongside the firefighting crew in challenging wildfire conditions.
While the crew flew home that day, the disabled truck required specialized transport services. We Will Transport It, a nationwide shipping company, provided transportation services at cost to return the vehicle to Northern Colorado.
The deployment was part of Poudre Fire Authority's participation in interstate wildfire response through mutual aid agreements. These deployments are governed by the Great Plains Interstate Fire Compact, which enables Colorado fire departments to assist with wildfire suppression in other states while ensuring full reimbursement of costs including personnel, equipment use and transportation expenses.
PFA serves a 235-square-mile area in Larimer County with approximately 192,000 residents. The authority maintains specialized wildfire equipment and certified wildland firefighters who can deploy within two hours for out-of-state assignments, typically lasting up to 14 days before rotation.
Similar deployments recently returned to Northern Colorado, as Larimer County Sheriff's Office wildland firefighters came back September 19 after battling the Derby Fire near Eagle, Colorado.
Out-of-state wildfire deployments serve dual purposes for local fire departments. The assignments provide real-world training opportunities that cannot be replicated in controlled environments, while generating revenue through federal and state reimbursement systems that help fund ongoing operations.
During out-of-state deployments, local emergency response coverage in Larimer County is maintained through drawdown policies and mutual aid agreements with neighboring fire departments. National mobilization guidelines require maintaining minimum staffing levels locally before releasing crews for external assignments.
Specialized wildfire equipment like brush rigs must meet rigorous maintenance requirements, particularly after extended deployments in demanding conditions. The vehicles are designed for rapid mobilization and continuous operation during wildfire suppression efforts, with maintenance costs covered under interstate mutual aid reimbursement agreements.
The authority's Community Wildfire Protection Plan emphasizes continued support for out-of-district deployments as part of building crew knowledge and maintaining readiness for local wildfire response in Larimer County's fire-prone areas.