Captain Brian Thompson, the leader of the four-firefighter crew from Los Banos at the Eaton Fire, told the Westside Express via text on Jan. 11 that “the destruction is the worst I’ve ever encountered. This has been the general consensus by other firefighters on the job.”
His crew consists of Acting Engineer Jesus Miramontes, firefighter Diego Flores and Firefighter Edward Casho. These volunteers are part of Fresno County strike group 5001A, with their yellowish truck from Los Banos, OES 377. They’re commanded by Dan O’Meara from the Fresno Fire Dept. “He’s a good dude,” Thompson said.
The crew and Thompson arrived the afternoon of Jan. 8 in Altadena. “We went straight to work after arriving,” Thompson said. They were now in the heart of Altadena, where the Eaton fire had torn through the majority of the city. The fire, as of Jan. 12, has burnt 14,117 acres and is 27% contained and is part of the larger ‘firestorm’ consuming the hills in north Los Angeles.
High winds and a record-dry winter made the perfect weather for even the smallest of embers to start new fires, making any spot of unwatered foliage prime fuel for a fire. Native plants of the area are specially adapted to burn during their life cycle. Firefighters like Thompson’s team are fighting a constant whack-a-mole against the firestorm.
Their first work shift of more than 30 hours started with protecting homes and extinguishing fires in a neighborhood. They were next assigned to a fire consuming a medical facility and an assisted living facility, the very ones featured on live television, when elders were evacuated by wheelchairs and hospital beds to a Seven-Eleven parking lot, where they waited in the wind and smoke until buses arrived to transport them.
After over 30 hours on the line, the Los Banos firefighters got some needed rest and prepared for their next shift. Their accommodations are a base camp. It is “fully outfitted” with sleeping trailers, showers, food and more. “Therapy dogs and food trucks,” Thompson said, are provided as well.
On their second shift, now on a 24-hour shift schedule, they were assigned to Lake Road in Altadena. It is “one of the hardest hit areas.” Thompson explained. “We are talking entire neighborhoods completely gone.”
While there, the crew put out hot spots and prevented the fire from spreading. They didn’t just do firefighting; they’ve also done humanitarian work. Thompson explained they were “offering help anywhere it’s needed.”
About his crew, Thompson said, “They’re holding up really well. I’m blessed to have some solid guys along with me down here.”
Since posting their image and announcement on Facebook, the Los Banos Fire Department and crew has received many well wishes. On social media, Los Banos residents have been sharing images of the crew as soon as Capt. Thompson posts them.
“We truly thank the residents of LB for their continued support and well wishes,” he said. “They mean more than they know in keeping our spirits elevated.”
Thompson’s history with fire started in sixth grade. His house burned down, despite the firefighters’ best efforts. “I admired what the fire crews did to help us.” That is what sparked his career as a firefighter. His long career started in 1989 and is “roughly 30 years” when you subtract the time he took off being a single dad.
