Corpsmembers Deploy to Protect Kern County Watersheds

The Borel Fire, which tore through Kern County in late July and early August, left significant damage in its wake. This week, Corpsmembers from the California Conservation Corps were in Havilah making sure damaged and destroyed homes, outbuildings, and vehicles don’t cause further destruction by protecting the area’s watersheds.

“There are chemicals that everybody has in their house that are cleaning supplies. Some of these houses have asbestos in them,” CCC Redding Corpsmember Jonah Cain explained. “We’re laying socks and wattles to absorb the chemicals, so that (the chemicals) don’t end up going into waterways or seep into the ground.”

The Borel Fire left 223 structures destroyed and another 29 damaged. On many of the properties Corpsmembers visited, there were also a significant number of burned-out vehicles.

“I’m noticing that a lot of them are really old vehicles, from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s,” said CCC Redding Corpsmember James Nelson. “I hate going onto the properties and seeing what burned down. But, I also feel good about it knowing I’m here to help people and fix the problem.”

CCC crews from Chico and Redding were slated to install silt socks and straw wattle at more than 150 properties in and around Havilah. The Corpsmembers work in partnership with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Water Resources, who’s experts determine where and how to install the watershed protection devices.

“We’re putting the wattles around all the houses and cars,” said CCC Chico Corpsmember Jimmy Conrad. “So, when it does rain and wash all the chemicals down, the socks and wattles will catch them, so they don’t go into the waterway or harm any animals.”

It’s laborious work in a community many of these young adults had never heard of until they arrived for this assignment. Corpsmembers—who are 18 to 25, serve across California, and enroll in the CCC for a year of paid service—have spent the summer supporting wildland firefighting efforts by staffing base camps, including at the Borel Fire, White Fire, and SQF Lightning Complex in Kern County.

“Corpsmembers take pride in the work they’re providing to our fire-ravaged communities,” said CCC Director JP Patton. “Many of these young adults have been impacted themselves by wildfire. They are giving their time and energy in the service of others, to make a difficult situation just a little bit better.”

After spending a week in Kern County, these same crews will take on additional watershed protection work up north at the Park Fire in Butte and Tehama counties.

“It’s very fulfilling to help the community, especially with all the devastation here,” said CCC Chico Corpsmember McKinley Adams. “I’m glad to help the community and all the locals are very happy to have us here, and they seem happy to have us helping them.”