Washington sends firefighters to help California battle historic blaze
Oct 28, 2019, 11:09 AM | Updated: 4:55 pm
Firefighters battling the Kincade Fire in Northern California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
As multiple wildfires continue to rage in California, Washington state’s own firefighters will soon head south to help.
BC names wildfires a bit differently than Washington
Washington Emergency Management will be sending seven task forces to assist, made up of more than 31 separate fire departments. That’s a list that includes Seattle, Everett, Bainbridge Island, Bothell, and Pasco among many others.
“Our crews are always ready and willing to help — we have the resources available to send, and so we want to be able to help our neighbors,” said Snohomish Fire District 7’s Heather Chadwick.
Among those going to California:
North Kitsap Fire&Rescue
Central Kitsap F&R
Bainbridge Island FD
South Kitsap FR
East Jefferson FR
West Thurston
SE Thruston
Lacey FD3
Lewis FD5
Thurston FD9
Chelan FD9
Chelan F&R
Kennewick Fire
Chelan FD1
Pasco
Eastside FR
King County Duvall— WA Emergency Management (@waEMD) October 28, 2019
Crews are expected to be in California for the next two to three weeks.
The Kincade Fire has forced nearly 200,000 people out of their homes in Northern California, while an ensuing power shutoff has left over a million people in the dark across the region. It’s currently the largest ever evacuation in Sonoma County history.
It’s already burned over 66,000 acres, with just five percent of it contained as of Sunday night.
Northwest set for reprieve as wetter, light wildfire season approaches
Meanwhile, Southern California is dealing with wildfire problems of its own, with the Getty Fire breaking out Monday morning in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. The blaze is affecting an area of the city known for its celebrity homes, with Lebron James among the residents who were forced to evacuate. More than 3,000 homes are being affected.
That comes after the Tick Fire that burned over 4,600 acres in Santa Clarita, affecting 10,000 homes, and destroying 29 buildings. The Tick Fire, battled by 500 firefighters, was 78 percent contained as of Monday morning.
Washington’s own crews will join the almost 3,400 personnel on-hand fighting these blazes across California.
