Crews use old and new techniques to fight forest wildfire

COLRAIN, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - A wildfire has been burning throughout the Cook State Forest on the border of Heath and Colrain since Saturday, and crews are fighting against more than just the flames.

It was determined that a lightning strike over the weekend started the fire, something that was difficult to locate as it was in the middle of the woods.

Western Mass News went to the Colrain Fire Department to learn more about how old and new technology play a role in this specific fire.

Both older techniques like hand tools and spraying water have been combined with new technology like drones and infrared cameras to help the firefighters in Colrain and Heath. Those crews were happy to show us that technology close-up.

“It’s not a very big fire; it’s just a very stubborn fire.” Said Nicholas Anzuoni, the Chief of Heath & Colrain Fire Departments. And Chief Anzuoni said what makes the fire so stubborn is the location.

Fire crews in Colrain, Heath, and surrounding towns rely heavily on mutual aid, but also on the technology from other towns. The way they located the fire in the first place, a high-tech drone owned by the Greenfield Police. “The drone is a great tool. Basically, it has GPS, it has infrared capability, which is wonderful because you can find things that you wouldn’t see with the naked eye. It will pick up high heat concentrations, so it will guide crews on the ground to where the hottest parts of the fire are.” Something That Fire Chief Nicholas Anzuoni went on to say he was grateful to have.

The drone saving Colrain from having to call in helicopters to locate exactly where the fire was in the middle of the woods, something that Chief Anzuoni said they would rather not do. “It’s an expensive option.”

With the drone and the mass communication truck that helps organize radio signals from surrounding departments, Chief Anzuoni said these crews used a lot of old-fashioned techniques to take down the flames. “We used the bulldozer to get through some of the heavy fuels and secure the perimeter.”

Not only did they bulldoze their way to the battle, but the underground portion of the fire forced crews to get down on their hands and knees too. “It’s gotta be dug out with hand tools. Just the same way they’ve been doing it for a hundred years; firefighters go in with hand tools and water.” Chief Anzuoni said adding that sometimes technology can fail you: “This is where technology gets defeated by topography and other features.”

Luckily, all those methods helped the crews get the flames under control, but it could have been a lot more difficult had one family chosen not to pick up the phone and call in the fire in the first place.