The initial spread of the Almeda Fire in real-time

Audio from 911 dispatchers and first responders tell a harrowing story of the first few hours fighting the Almeda Fire.

Responders all day today.

As you listened to their communications in real time,urg.

Here is how it sounded during the first two hours of the almeda fire.

11:07 a-m.

September 8-th, 2020.

Ashland.

911 dispatch: we're getting multiple reports of a grass fire.

It's going to be behind the area of 164 almeda drive, 164 almeda drive.

We have a caller advising that the fire is headed towards her house on glendower.

It's behind or close to the water treatment plant as well.

8802 responding.

Battalion 1 is en route.

911: we're getting reports that the resident is panicking.

They're advising they'll need help evacuating if it is necessary.

Battallion 1: 185 almeda.

Access between the driveway.

Extend some hose lines and let's start to protect some structures there.

This looks to be a grass fire.

About a half acre.

Call this almeda command for the almeda fire.

20 minutes later at 11-30 a-m, the fire is moving quickly and firefighters need back up-- and soon.

Battalion 1: resources like helicopters and helicopter drops.

We need them.

I'm going to do a face to face with glendower command.

They've got their hands full.

The urgency of the situation became clear to everyone who could hear the radio.

(take jimmy key) jimmy johnson says, "when there's a big incident you can almost hear it in the dispatcher's voice.

Kind of their concern of the picture they're hearing and that kind of relays over the radio."

911 dispatch: 8513 negative.

South county fire stand by just one.

Central to 8106 are you with 8102 on eagle mill?

Correction, 8102 are you with 8106?

Firefighter: inaudible.

Eagle mill.

911 dispatch: central copies.

8106, 8102 on eagle mill.

Five minutes later, a spot fie is reported along i-5 at the port of entry.

Four minutes later, it's on the move.

Fire crew: we're at 1100 eagle mill road.

The flame front has passed us and is moving north along i-5.

Structures are threatened.

We've got at least 30-foot flames.

At 11:53, the almeda fire, fueled by the strong winds, makes the jump towards valley view road at exit 19.

Fire crew: i'm doing evacuations off of valley view and fire is burning across valley view right now.

Dispatch: copy.

Being advised the gas stations in ashland are threatened.

Fire crew: be advised it's jumped valley view and headed towards the mobile home park on lowe road.

At 12:19, on the east side of the interstate, crews face the flames head on.

Fire crew: we're sitting on 690 valley view making a stand to protect the structures.

Battalion 1: i'm going to check in with resources around here but at this point i don't have additional resources to send them... we're going to need more help.

At 12:37, the flames overtake bear creek mobile home park.

Fire crew: 8311, we're on the south side of lowe road at the trailer park near trailer number 1.

We have multiple trailers fully involved.

We have trees torching the side.

We need to make sure 7700 units on the north are advised the fire is coming up behind them.

(take aaron key) aaron bustard says, "after we lost that park, that we all kind of got the picture