An unpermitted private electrical system sparked the 2017 Tubbs fire in Sonoma County, Calif., and high winds carried it away. Racing through canyons and over hills, the fire jumped the six lanes of Highway 101, ravaging everything in its wake. By the time of its containment 23 days later, the fire burned 36,807 acres, devoured 4,000 homes, killed 22 people and displaced thousands of others.
It was the largest and most destructive fire in the state’s history.
Two Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) Sonoma County Professional Chapter members lost their homes but were safe and accounted for.
Their fellow EWB-USA engineers lost no time in responding.
“Engineers Without Borders, Ask Us a Question”
Jessica Politz
“In the first few weeks after the fire, it was really about communicating and reconnecting with our members,” said volunteer Jessica Politz.
Knowing they possessed much-needed technical expertise, the team attended neighborhood and county meetings. They set up a table with a banner reading “Engineers Without Borders, Ask Us a Question.”
“So many people have no idea where to start when dealing with rebuilding after a fire,” said Jessica. “They bought their house, it was built, and there are a few maintenance things you need to do. But answering questions like, ‘What is a geotech study, and what does a land surveyor even do?,’ is difficult for most people,”
The EWB-USA team handed out their phone numbers and connected impacted homeowners with resources. Jessica said this allowed them to be of immediate service to their community.
“My biggest motivation for being an engineer is to help others,” Jessica said.
The team undertook two community projects that originated at the neighborhood meetings.
Wikiup Bridge Way
The Tubbs fire devastated the community of Wikiup Bridge Way. It destroyed Twenty-six of the 27 homes in the community and took out a wooden bridge, the only access point for the community. This loss greatly hindered recovery and restoration efforts.
“The bridge was the last thing to go,” Jessica recalled. “It was such a miracle that they were all able to evacuate safely. Everyone got out and then the bridge just burned.”
EWB-USA volunteers provided engineering, design and construction guidance for replacing seven fire-damaged culverts along the main road in Wikiup Bridge Way. The project also helped protect the structural integrity of the community’s roads.
The larger and improved culverts will help protect nearby Mark West Springs Creek, downstream watersheds and the wildlife that depend on these waters.
Valley Creek Watershed
EWB-USA also helped with erosion control projects around the Franz Valley Creek watershed.
Jessica said that when they visited the area after the fire, “everything was still black. There was zero regrowth and tons of evidence of erosion.”
The scorched earth put the watershed at risk.
“When a single raindrop hits unprotected soil at a speed in excess of 35 miles an hour, it can displace soil particles five feet in any given direction,” said Rich Casale, a Certified Professional Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Because of the potential impact on the watershed, the project received government emergency grant funding. This allowed the EWB-USA team to conduct a thorough analysis of the watershed and provide erosion control recommendations. They identified key locations for jute fabric and seeding, both of which were installed with the help of Prunuske Chatham Contractors and Conservation Corps North Bay.
Engineering with Compassion and Purpose
With any natural disaster, the road to recovery is a long one, but one made easier through the support, dedication and compassion of people and organizations working on the ground.
The EWB-USA Sonoma County Professional Chapter made a positive difference in helping California recover from this disaster and will continue lending technical expertise to building resilient communities.