Engineers News - October 2015

Working through wildfire
Members work in the haze of California wildfires
Story and photos by John O. Matos, associate editor
“See that ridge right there,” said Eureka District Rep. Dave
Kirk, as he pointed to a nearby bluff lined with trees and
shrouded in heavy smoke. “The fire was right behind those trees
the other day.”
Despite the fire’s close proximity, neither it nor the smoke is
preventing a paving crew with Mercer-Fraser from getting their
job done. The Hwy. 299 overlay project at the Humboldt County
line between Redding and Eureka extends eight miles through
an area high in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest that has been
the scene of several wildfires this summer.
“There is always the possibility the fire will shut down the
job, but it hasn’t happened yet,” said Screed Operator Bryan
Martinez. The smoke was particularly thick on the day he spoke
with Engineers News, significantly reducing visibility along the
mountain pass.
“This is the worst it’s been,” he explained. “There was wind
earlier this week, so the smoke didn’t lay in here like yesterday
and today.”
While the crew continues their work as if nothing is different,
they admit it is a little strange to come home smelling like smoke
and with their vehicles covered in ash. It’s also unusual to see
helicopters and water bombers zipping back and forth in the sky
to contain the wildfires.
“They fly right by here, sometimes dipping into the river
right down the hill from us,” said Shuttle Buggy Operator James
Meagher. “It’s the coolest thing ever.”
“Working this close to the fire isn’t too bad, just a lot of
smoke,” said Inspector Jeff Smith.
Unlike some of the other guys on this job, Smith doesn’t get
to drive down from the smoke-filled mountains at the end of the
day, as he lives just a couple miles away. He doesn’t mind the
conditions, however, as long as the fires are under control and
the cool weather continues.
Because Mercer-Fraser is a local contractor employing
local Operating Engineers, the rest of the crew all come from
nearby communities like Eureka, McKinleyville and Fortuna.
Although they may not be as close to home as Smith, they all
have relatively short commutes. Other workers in the region
aren’t as fortunate, as many jobs have been shut down early in
order to give out-of-area crew members the extra time needed
to make it through the narrow mountain pass during the fire
season. With fire crews being given priority on the roads, long
delays for regular motorists have become a necessary part of the
firefighters’ efforts.
“We’re lucky,” said Screedman and 25-year member Terry
King. Not only has he and the rest of this crew been able to avoid
the fire-related travel delays on their way to and from the jobsite,
the job itself hasn’t had any delays this year either.
Terry is one of three Kings on the job. His brother, 25-year
member Danny King, is the superintendent, and Terry’s son,
Tanner King, is also working on the crew before returning to
school this fall.
After a quick break, the crew fired up the equipment, got
back to work and soon faded into the distant smoke. Behind
them was a smooth and even stretch of highway, the result of
their hard work and determination despite the surrounding
elements.
For more photos, visit us online at www.oe3.org.
A paving crew with Mercer-
Fraser works amid smoke on
Hwy. 299.
October 2015 | 15