Cal Fire Shasta-Trinity Unit finds creatives ways to fill gaps while firefighters battle wildfires

As more than a million acres burn across our state, local firefighters are racing to the rescue.

Acres burn across our state -- local firefighters are racing to the rescue.

But who is here to protect us?

Action news now reporter ana torrea is live in shasta county.

Ana - what's their contigency plan?

They're going to use other parts of the force to fight fires if needed with so many firefighters going to the front lines around the state.

*take so* trt:08 cheryl buliavac cal fire shasta- trinity unit, public information officer we're utilizing our fuels reduction crews and other firefighter hand crews in place of those that are out.

Cal fire says: fires of this scale is not common.

And the shasta- trinity unit having to get creative.

Finding ways to fill spots left open by firefighters battling fires around the state..

Take so* trt:14 cheryl buliavac cal fire shasta- trinity unit, public information officer so for us, sending out those resources to help with that, leaves us with a deficit.

We are using reserve fire engines, we have fire engines thru shasta county fire department, and some of our local fire protection districts.

Ana stand u* trt ana torrea atorreanews the shasta - trinity unit also says it's also heavily relying on its quick aggressive air attack if a fire were to break out here at home.

The staffing shortage causing concern for folks here at home.

Take so* trt:12 marty karke lives in the bay area it's really kind of scary and i know we dont have a lot of firefighters// hopefully they have a lot of experienced people on staff that can make the resource stretch.

((butt to)) take so* trt:08 shyann teen lives in anderson i feel really bad that it takes that many people to put that fire out as the fires continue to rage and the possibility of more lightning - cal fire says it could use all the help it can get.

Take so* trt:10 cheryl buliavac cal fire shasta- trinity unit, public information officer now more than ever we need the public to partner with us and be especially vigilant, 95% of fires are human- caused and that means they're ultimately preventable.

# cal fire urges people to have a go-ba ready to go.

Just in case people need to evacuate right away.

Reporting live in redding, ana torrea, action news now coverage you can count on.

Right now: there are more than 14-thousand firefighters battling wildfires across california.

Chico