On the Fire Line, Grueling Work and a Shared Purpose

At a minimum, he said, that requires putting far more resources into fire prevention and preparedness, but also avoiding quick-fix changes to firefighting that could introduce unintended consequences and do more harm than good. “In this era,” he wrote, “we have to get it right.”

This year, firefighting is complicated not only by climate change but also by the coronavirus pandemic. The disease has reduced the ranks of inmate firefighters in California, but it has also led to camp rules that promote social distancing — especially important in light of the prevalence of “camp crud,” respiratory illness that commonly runs through the gathered masses of firefighters. Each region has produced plans for dealing with social distancing and other measures.

Typically, the work on a fire runs 24 hours on and 24 hours off, with little or no sleep during the shift. When do they sleep? “Sometimes we don’t,” Mr. Bovarie said. During more intense periods of firefighting, shifts can extend into days. But, he added, “we love it — it’s our duty. We feel like we’re making a difference.”

Brendan O’Connor, a member of Captain Rogers’ team whose chief job as a “puller” means he tosses downed brush and trees aside, agreed: “There’s nothing I’d rather be doing right now.” Still, he said, “there are moments when you’re working, when you feel the world is going to end.”

Much of the work may be low-tech, but high technology goes into the planning of the lines.

“It used to be, ‘Hey, get out there, dig that line, don’t let a tree fall on you and stay out of the flames,’” Mr. Whittington said. Today operational plans are subjected to risk analysis using information about conditions from the ground and from airplanes, as well as meteorologists who can forecast local conditions and look out for warning signs of high winds or other factors that can send fires out of control.

“Risk is always there,” Mr. Whittington said. “It’s how much exposure you’re willing to accept,” he said. “That’s the art of firefighting.”