A local man had a role in fighting the fires that still burn in Colorado.

Jake Novitsky, a fire forester with the Weiser Forest District, which covers Schuylkill, Carbon, Dauphin, Columbia, Lebanon, Northumberland and Montour counties was out west last month. Novitsky, who was the crew boss trainee, lead a group of 20 people who drove there Sept. 1 and returned to Pennsylvania Sept. 20. Five of those going were from the Weiser Forest District, the rest were with other forest districts statewide.

He fought The Cameron Peak and Pine Gulch fires.

“That fire is still roaring,” he said Thursday of the Cameron Peak fire 15 miles southwest of Red Feather Lakes in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest.

As of Sunday, the 126,251-acre fire is 42 percent contained, according to the website inciweb.nwcg.gov. A cause has not been determined.

The 139,007-acre Pine Gulch fire near Grand Junction is 100 percent contained, according to inciweb.nwcg.gov. The fire started by a lightning strike.

Arrival

The initial attack, type 2 hand crew, fought the Pine Gulch fire first from Sept. 3 to Sept. 13. Novitsky and his crew slept in tents at times. When snow fell, they went to hotels.

“When we first got there, it was in the mid-90s during the day and low 40s at night, and then it snowed like a foot,” he said.

The group brought their equipment including hand tools and chain saws with them, meeting at a designated area for instructions. Novitsky said the fire was in the mountains away from homes.

“Most of the fire was just smoldering and creeping,” he said.

Novitsky and the crew did cold trailing, which is where they feel the ground for temperature variations. If found, they then mixed the ground together until the heat dissipated.

“We had minimal fire there,” he said.

The Cameron Peak fire was much different.

“When we got there, we saw a lot of burned area,” he said of their Sept. 14 arrival.

He described the fire activity as “moderate to high” with homes nearby.

“I was able to see active fire. The whole mountain was on fire,” Novitsky said.

They were stationed near a helicopter area.

Using a radio and mirrors, Novitsky guided a helicopter to drop water on the fire. The group also was tasked with keeping the fire from crossing a line in the soil, which was bulldozed.

They left for Pennsylvania Sept. 18.

Novitsky said residents of the area were appreciative of their efforts. For example, he said they went to a Subway and residents paid for their meals. People thanked them for their selflessness.

Coming home

Novitsky said he missed showers and his dog the most.

“Sometimes you go three to four days without a shower,” he said.

Restroom facilities were also lacking at times.

Novitsky said “anything can happen” when fighting fires, but he is willing to take the risk for a greater cause. Safety is always a priority, he said, adding no one was injured.

“We thank you for all your thoughts and prayers,” Novitsky said.