A resident credits the CDCR staff strike team firefighters with saving him and his home during the Los Angeles fires.
“The whole hillside went up in flames like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said resident Harry Leonhardt, describing the wildfires. “I didn’t want to leave here until I could figure out what was going on.”
Watch the video (story continues below):
“I was in deep trouble in there and they ended up finding me. It was like the cavalry showing up.”
Harry Leonhardt, resident
While outside, the force of the wind blew his door closed, locking him out.
“I couldn’t get back into my house,” he explained. “I’m sitting up there thinking I’m not going to make it through this.”
Then he spotted a fire truck going by.
“I screamed and they saw me, thank God,” he said. “The next thing you know, (they said), ‘We’re going to be right back with (more) guys and we’re going to help you out.'”
According to CDCR staff strike team Chief Jesse Corrales, some people held out, hoping the flames wouldn’t reach their property.
“They didn’t want to leave so they’re trapped here,” Corrales said. “There was a long time when they were not allowed to leave the neighborhood and come back due to road closures. They are here without water, food, gas (or) anything they need really to survive.”
The CDCR strike team is helping those still in the neighborhoods.
“We’re driving around providing … drinking water, food supplies (or) whatever it is we have in our vehicles,” Corrales explained. “We’re giving that to the community if needed (and) any other logistical help they need.”
“These firefighters, man, I cannot say enough about what they did for me,” Leonhardt said. “I was in deep trouble in there and they ended up finding me. It was like the cavalry showing up.”
BY THE NUMBERS: As of 8 a.m., Jan. 17, there are 1,120 fire camp crews working around the clock cutting fire lines and removing fuel from behind structures to slow fire spread. This is in addition to 141 CDCR staff.
Video by Richard Tan, TV specialist
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications
Related content:
Meet the specialized CDCR staff strike team
More than 75,000 firefighters, including a CDCR strike team, are battling relentless Southern California wildfires. They are working around the clock to protect lives and communities. The specialized 21-person CDCR strike team was deployed to the Palisades fire Jan. 8. Learn more about the strike team’s role and watch the video.
Feeding the Eaton fire crews
To feed and care for such a large response effort, it takes a team effort. The CDCR and CAL FIRE mobile kitchen units are preparing meals for crews as they return to the Eaton fire incident command post at the Rose Bowl. Read the full story.
Learn more about firefighters and CDCR/CAL FIRE camps.
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