Washington firefighters head out to help with devastating California wildfires

WESTERN WASHINGTON — Following days of devastating damage from wildfires in LA, California officials are asking for help from neighboring states — and Washington firefighters are answering the call.

This week, local fire department crews from across the state set out on the two-day journey to Southern California to bring much-needed help as the fires continue to rage out of control.

According to Washington Emergency Management, 43 local fire agencies are heading down to provide resources, with many already on their way.

California firefighters have spent days battling the wind and fires that are claiming lives, destroying homes, and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.

In Shoreline, KIRO 7 watched as several firefighters packed up and prepared to deploy early Thursday morning.

“It was a quick turnaround. Once the call was made, everyone scrambled. The resource leaders filtering down to get the boots on the street down there,” said Battalion Chief Justyn Shevlin with Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue.

Fire departments have organized nine task forces, made up of 45 engines and 11 trucks, to provide aid. Additionally, the state’s Department of Natural Resources is sending two strike teams comprised of 10 engines and some 35 personnel members.

Over 140 firefighter personnel with the proper training to deal with these types of fires are heading down to help, even though the type of wind-fueled fires California is experiencing doesn’t typically happen here in Washington.

" Wildland firefighting is different apparatus, different tools, a different skill set, a lot to do with weather patterns, topography patterns of the region that you’re in, different types of water supply,” explained Chief Shevlin.

Chief Shevlin says these crews will be helping where they can. This means they’ll be extinguishing flames, relieving firefighters who need rest, and using their engines to protect structures being threatened by the wildfires.

“Normally, you are put on potentially 12-hour shifts, but whatever the resource managers down there need, that’s what we’ll be tasked with,” he said.

Chief Shevlin assured the community that their absence would not impact response times at home after the Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue was one of the first to set out from Washington on Wednesday.

“We have 200 firefighters within our organization, so we’re only sending five. So we’re sending a strike team leader and one structural engine with a crew of four,” he added. “There’s no loss of service to the residents that we serve in Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue, our minimum or daily staffing has stayed the same.”

The imagery from LA makes it clear that the firefighters leaving Washington will be busy as soon as they hit the ground, with crews expecting to be there for at least two weeks.

For a full list of all the fire departments participating and other resources heading to California, visit the Washington Emergency Management website.

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