Amador County Fire Puts Cal Fire Graduates To Work As Training Wraps Up

AMADOR COUNTY (CBS13) - More than 200 acres burned in the Camanche Fire in Amador County last week. It started near a Cal Fire Training Facility, just as the Cal Fire Academy was wrapping up.

"We were standing there, about to get pinned with our badges and next thing we know, we look over to our left shoulder and a column of smoke just starts blowing up," said Luz Tejada, a new Cal Fire firefighter. "Next thing we know, we were wrapping everything up and 10 minutes later we were throwing everything on the crew bus and just getting ready to go fight fire."

Twelve new recruits joined about eight others to battle the raging brush fire. It took nearly 22 hours to get the fire contained.

"You have no idea what to expect until you get there," said Nicholas Jodoin, who had just finished the training academy when the fire began. "Fire can start anytime and anytime we're ready to go 24/7. They do a great job of getting us ready."

The Academy consists of five days of extensive training that includes battling hazardous scenarios, learning about wildland safety and going thorough medical training.

"It was awe inspiring to see how everything moves, all of the pieces in motion together," Jodoin said. "The first time I've ever seen it all at once."

Tejeda had worked with Cal Fire in the past but she too had just finished re-training on Friday and didn't expect to hit the ground running so soon.

"In your mind, you're just like 'OK I'm ready to work. I'm just gonna work and I don't know for how long,'" she said. "You just gotta make it through and just push yourself to the farthest cause this is what we do. This is what we signed up for."

She said Friday's call was really like any other: there was no warning and they had no idea how many people were out there in need.

"Probably the most horrible moment of their life and we're only there to help and try to make it a little bit better."