The Biden Administration has released federal funds to replenish the depleted hose supply for crews battling the destructive wildfires raging across Northern California.
The increased need for the essential tool occurred when Cal Fire crews fought the Bridge Fire, which erupted on Sept. 5 in Placer County. Firefighters fully contained the blaze on Wednesday, however, their efforts were slowed due to a shortage of hoses.
Assistant Cal Fire Chief Steve Robinson told KOVR the agency’s normal supplier in Redding completely ran out of the tool and had to order more from a cache in Alaska, which added an extra day for crews to receive the equipment they needed.
"We can get stretched really thin," Robinson told the station.
The situation prompted the Biden Administration to intervene and pay for more hoses from an Oklahoma company named NewView Oklahoma, which is the sole supplier of the equipment for the U.S. Forest Service, the agency responsible for firefighter tools throughout California.
With the new order, NewView Oklahoma said it expects to supply 4,000 miles of hoses to California.
"The goal is to have enough in our stock to keep us in service and keep us working," Robinson explained.
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