Fort Hunter Liggett crews support Madre Fire response
Courtesy Photo – Fort Hunter Liggett Directorate of Public Works heavy equipment operator supervisor Ronnie Rosas is a seasoned dozer operator at FHL with wildland fires. He has worked at FHL since 1987 and has supported more than 30 mutual aid fires to include the Madre Fire in this photo, July 2025.
Fire line work protects wildlife and cultural heritage sites
– Fort Hunter Liggett deployed three heavy equipment operators and two firefighters to support firefighting operations on the Madre Fire in Los Padres National Forest from July 2-14. The personnel worked in a remote area of central California as part of a coordinated response involving hundreds of firefighters and support personnel.
Upon arrival around midnight on July 2, the Fort Hunter Liggett team began constructing direct fire lines in the Soda Lake area of the Carrizo Plain using bulldozers to remove vegetation and prevent fire spread. In the following days, the team assisted in repairing and maintaining fire lines on the eastern edge of the fire.
The deployment included firefighter Rayfield DiLonardo, who served as Heavy Equipment Boss (Trainee). He worked 14–16-hour days and was based at the Santa Maria base camp. DiLonardo completed his third assignment toward his qualification and was responsible for scouting the fire line, coordinating with dozer operators and division leadership, and managing logistics.
DiLonardo, a firefighter of 17 years, joined the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department in April 2022. He described his career motivation stemming from a high school career project. “It’s an exciting job and I enjoy helping protect lives and property. I couldn’t think of doing anything else,” he said.
Commenting on the area’s resources at risk, including Native American rock art, Tule elk, Pronghorn antelope and the endangered Giant Kangaroo rat, DiLonardo said, “It’s great being able to help protect them…because once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
The Madre Fire started July 2 and had burned more than 80,000 acres by July 21, when it reached 97% containment. It affected areas in the Chimineas Ranch Land Trust, Carrizo Plain National Monument and Los Padres National Forest. The fire response included seven firefighting air tankers, four helicopters, 46 fire engines and seven bulldozers.
Rich Camacho, director of Fort Hunter Liggett Emergency Services, described the urgency of the response. “Getting responders to the scene quickly is critical,” he said. “When we received the request from CALFIRE on July 2, the fire had consumed about 9,000 acres. By the time our team arrived three hours later, the fire had already doubled in size.”
Deputy Fire Chief Aaron Smith said the deployment provided valuable experience. “This was a great opportunity to enhance our fire department’s readiness by conducting firefighting operations in fuels that mirror the types of fuel loads we have on base,” he said. “The more experience our personnel have in conducting joint operations, the better prepared they are at our installation and supporting mutual aid partners.”
The three Directorate of Public Works heavy equipment operators are trained in wildland fire management. Training includes online courses and field exercises provided by the Fort Hunter Liggett Fire Department. Operators are instructed in fire fuel types, flame behavior and response techniques. Annual refreshers are required to maintain certification.
Ronnie Rosas, a heavy equipment operator supervisor who has worked at Fort Hunter Liggett since 1987, has supported more than 30 mutual aid fires. He said the deployment gave newer operators valuable first-hand experience. “This training has helped me tremendously…without it, I’d be lost,” Rosas said. “This fire was tough because it was dark, and the wind was blowing hard. Your adrenaline is pumping…it’s hot and smoky. And you’re trying to defeat it as opposed to it defeating you.”
The fire is jointly managed by Los Padres National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management. Fort Hunter Liggett’s participation is part of a mutual aid agreement between the State of California and the U.S. Army, under which the Army receives full reimbursement for equipment and personnel assigned to the response.
Official updates on the Madre Fire are available at the CALFIRE website: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/7/2/madre-fire/updates.
