SALEM, Ore. — Firefighters from across Oregon have joined the fire lines of two wildfires burning across Northern California after arriving on Sunday, the Oregon State Fire Marshal's office said.
Six strike teams were headed to the 250-acre Burris Fire burning in Mendocino County. The Fire Marshal's office said that five teams were working to secure fire lines and aid with mop up operations, while the final team responded to a new incident called the Twin Fire.
Meanwhile, nine strike teams deployed at the 66,231-acre Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, which had already forced evacuations for some 180,000 people. Crews were assigned to help protect homes and construct control lines.
“It’s very humbling to be a part of a large scale mobilization of resources and see how quickly Oregon can respond in a time of need,” said State Fire Marshal Jim Walker. “To assemble 75 fire engines and 271 firefighters in a matter of hours to respond to our neighbors in need is extraordinary.”
The Oregon firefighters could stay in California for as many as 16 days, the Fire Marshal's office said.
Ashland Fire & Rescue said that four of its firefighters were at the Kincade Fire, alongside crews from four other departments in the Rogue Valley.
"They will be on the fireline this morning, doing what they can (and more) to help our neighbors," the agency said on Monday. "All costs are paid back to Ashland by State of California and FEMA. Keep all the firefighters and residents of impacted areas in your thoughts and prayers!"
