TRACY, Calif. –
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution San Joaquin, California recently aided efforts combatting wildfires ravaging parts of southern California.
On Friday Jan. 17, DLA Distribution San Joaquin received several expedited materiel release orders. Employees in the fire mission warehouse and the transportation team worked into the weekend ensuring three truckloads of material and equipment made its way to one of the major wildfire caches, located in Ontario, California.
“We sent batteries, chem lights, hoses, nozzles, fire shelters, fire-resistant shirts and pants,” said Vinnie Somsanith, distribution process work leader, DLA Distribution San Joaquin, listing just some of the materials he and his teammates processed. One truckload was packed with 30 pallets of meals, ready to eat, he noted.
The fire mission team processes around 30,000 orders annually, with most of their shipments going to replenish the 16 major and minor caches. They’re accustomed to receiving an increase in expedited order requests during the annual “fire season,” which typically runs from the beginning of May into November with its duration dependent upon several factors including quantity of rainfall and the severity of heatwaves. But exactly when the fire mission team may be called upon to boost productivity can never be accurately predicted, evidenced by the unexpected wildfires that spread recently throughout several neighborhoods near Los Angeles.
“There was once a fire season, but it’s year-round now,” said Domingo Reyes, Heavy Storage Branch Chief, DLA Distribution San Joaquin. “But this team works really well together. It’s all about communication and teamwork.”
The team received an assist from members of the DLA Distribution Expeditionary Team, who augmented the fire mission employees during their recent efforts.
“They all do a really good job,” said Kevin Cabral, fire mission warehouse supervisor, DLA Distribution San Joaquin. “When the expedited tickets start to drop, everything else gets set aside until it all goes out. They know what to do.”