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S.A.F.P.D.  Deploys Crew to Northern California for Severity Patrol

Alder Springs, CA (August 1 - present)  — The South Arkansas Fire Protection District (SAFPD) has deployed a wildland engine crew to Northern California to assist with wildfire preparedness and response during peak fire season, including Alder Springs. 

Engine 311 departed  with a four-person crew, including three wildland firefighters and one engine boss, to support a severity patrol assignment in the Northern California region. Severity patrols are proactive deployments where fire resources are strategically stationed in high-risk areas to respond quickly to new wildfire starts and provide added support during critical fire weather periods.

Northern California, like much of the western U.S., is experiencing elevated fire danger due to ongoing drought conditions, low fuel moisture, and above-average temperatures. The presence of severity patrol teams allows for rapid initial attack and can prevent small fires from growing into large, destructive incidents.

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Want to know what a severity patrol is all about? Here’s a snapshot of the role:

Two fire trucks parked in a forested area.
A red fire truck parked near a lake in a forested area under a clear blue sky.
A red fire truck parked near a lake with a forested background under a clear blue sky.
A red fire truck labeled "E311" parked on a forest road with trees and cloudy skies.
View from a vehicle on a dirt road, overlooking hilly terrain under a clear blue sky.
A person stands on a large fallen tree in a forest, wearing sunglasses and outdoor clothing, under a clear blue sky.
A person in a yellow jacket and red helmet stands on a hill with an axe, overlooking a rural landscape.
Two people in yellow shirts and red helmets stand on a hill with tools, one is drinking from a green bottle.
Two people in firefighter gear with tools stand on a hill with a valley in the background.
Firefighters walking in a line through a forested area on a clear day.
Two fire trucks parked in a forested area.
A red fire truck parked near a lake in a forested area under a clear blue sky.
A red fire truck parked near a lake with a forested background under a clear blue sky.
A red fire truck labeled "E311" parked on a forest road with trees and cloudy skies.
View from a vehicle on a dirt road, overlooking hilly terrain under a clear blue sky.
A person stands on a large fallen tree in a forest, wearing sunglasses and outdoor clothing, under a clear blue sky.
A person in a yellow jacket and red helmet stands on a hill with an axe, overlooking a rural landscape.
Two people in yellow shirts and red helmets stand on a hill with tools, one is drinking from a green bottle.
Two people in firefighter gear with tools stand on a hill with a valley in the background.
Firefighters walking in a line through a forested area on a clear day.