The Grand Junction Fire Department (GJFD) recently deployed a wildland team to California’s Plumas National Forest for a severity assignment just before the Turner Gulch Fire ignited locally. The team, equipped with a Type 3 engine and led by an Engine Boss, provided initial attack capabilities for new fire starts on U.S. Forest Service land.
Following the outbreak of the Turner Gulch Fire, GJFD coordinated a crew swap to bring personnel back home after their 14-day deployment, ensuring local firefighting efforts were supported. The Type 6 engine remains in California, to be restaffed by a new crew, minimizing equipment transport while maintaining readiness.
Currently, all local assignments for the Turner Gulch Fire are fully staffed, but critical fire conditions in California have prompted plans for a new GJFD crew to redeploy soon. When deployed externally, GJFD is reimbursed for personnel and equipment costs, and these missions provide valuable training that enhances local capabilities. The department ensures community protection by maintaining sufficient staffing and equipment, including a Type 3 and a Type 6 wildland engine ready for immediate local response.
Challenges remain, as two of GJFD’s four certified Engine Bosses are currently unavailable due to injury, limiting external deployment capacity. Despite this, GJFD remains committed to supporting wildfire operations nationwide, just as other departments have aided Mesa County in the past.