Texas Sending Firefighters to Assist with California Wildfires

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The State of Texas is sending firefighters to assist with wildfires in California.

According to Dallas-Fire-Rescue, the State of California requested assistance from the State of Texas through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to aid in battling their wildfire outbreak in Carr. The North Texas Branch of the Texas Department of Emergency Management, through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, is coordinating the deployment of a Strike Team, consisting of personnel and equipment from multiple area departments, to assist with the efforts.

As part of the team, which includes fire departments from Frisco, Lewisville and Little Elm, Dallas Fire-Rescue will be sending two Type III Brush Trucks, one tactical tender and 11 firefighters to the area just north of Sacramento. Though there is no defined time for which assistance will be needed, the initial strike team is prepared to be in place for no longer than a 14-day deployment period. A new team will be sent in relief if more help is needed.

According to California Fire officials, the Carr fire began on Monday, July 23^rd, after a tractor trailer tire blew, causing sparks from the rim to ignite the blaze. Since then, the fire has grown to consume a significant square mileage of land, destroy over 1,700 overall structures, to include almost 1,200 homes, and claim the lives of 6 people, including 2 firefighters. As of Monday, August 6^th, the fire was reported to be only 43% contained.

“It’s for situations like this that these processes are put in place,” stated DFR Fire Chief, David Coatney, while talking about the deployment. “Local Mutual Aid agreements can be a nice convenience; but programs like EMAC are critical when our help is needed outside of State lines”, he added.

As part of this State-wide emergency management request, 97 Texas firefighters, representing 32 local fire departments, will deploy to Northern California to help with the wildfires. Those firefighters will be staffing 31 pieces of heavy equipment, including 25 Engines, while on assignment.