After the August Complex fire broke out in northern California, a Kentucky Forestry Division chief ranger received the call to make the trek out West to help contain the flames.
Lem Johnson is a chief ranger for the Pineville branch of the Kentucky Division of Forestry. He said the August Complex fire is the largest fire in California history caused by lightning and dry conditions, covering about 800,000 miles. Johnson, who helped fight the blaze for 21 days, said the fire's danger zone was so large it took three hours to drive from one side of the fire to the other. He said it will be weeks, maybe even a month, before the fire is under control.
"It was a very educational experience for me because just the complexity level of the fires is enormous," Johnson said. "Because (you had) like 31 fires burning one time, (all trying) to burn in different directions. And so you couldn't just focus on the fire, you're having to watch your back."