‘4,000 to 5,000 calories every day’: How crews stay fueled on the front lines of the Cram Fire

ASHWOOD, Ore. (KTVZ) - Battling wildfire takes strength, stamina, and a lot of calories.

Wildland firefighters need between 4,000 to 5,000 calories a day to keep up with the physical demands of the job.

At the Cram Fire in Jefferson County, that fuel starts with breakfast at the base camp. On this particular morning, the kitchen was serving scrambled eggs, sausage patties, muffins, and tater tots.

Before leaving camp, firefighters also pick up a sack lunch.

Meals at wildfire base camps are provided by contracted catering companies that specialize in large-scale emergency operations.

“This company came from California, and they drove up here to cater this fire,” said Ranae Pape, PIO 3 at the Cram Fire. “Each fire requires a different type of caterer. So when you're feeding 900, 1,000 or even 2,000 people on scene, you're looking at different levels of catering and support needed to feed the firefighters.”

At the Cram Fire, the caterers originally planned to serve dinner to 700 people Thursday evening.

“They just got a phone call saying that the numbers for dinner just increased another 250," Pape said.

Not all firefighters are able to return to camp for meals, so some are packed and delivered directly to their locations in the field.

For those who do return, meals at the base camp provide more than fuel. It offers a moment to rest, reconnect, and recharge.

"Food is a great, great way to bring people together and and have a time of just relaxation. Even though it may be brief, it gives them just a mental break." said Pape.

While community members may want to show their support with food, fire officials ask the public not to send meals or snacks directly to the camps. Strict health and safety protocols must be followed to prevent illness or allergic reactions among crews.

"We encourage those donations to go to local charities or donate to like wildland fire resources in in different ways," Pape said.