Firefighters from Tri-Cities, Walla Walla headed to help with California fires

A strike team of firefighters from Benton County and Wallla Walla County is on the road Monday morning, headed to Biggs Junction to meet up with other fire crews headed to California to help fight tens of thousands of acres of wind-driven wildfires.

Captain John Knowles with the Walla Walla Fire Department says they're joining with Walla Walla County Fire Districts #4 and #8 to supply three Type 5 Wildland engines, meeting up with agencies from the Tri-Cities to form a Strike Team headed south to California.

Once final authorization is received from California's emergency management officials, another group of three firefighters from the Kennewick Fire Department will travel to California along with the agency's Engine 1832, a Type 3 Wildland engine, according to Captain Brian Ellis. Pasco will also send a Type 6 Wildland engine with a team of 3 crew members, and a utility truck with a strike team leader.  Ben Shearer with Pasco Fire says the team plans meet up with units from Chelan County, led by Brandon Burton from Pasco Fire.

CalFire requested the strike teams of engines and personnel from southeast and central Washington to respond through the state-to-state Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and State Mobilization process.

A strike team is made up of 5 units of similar type, each lead by a Strike Team Leader. The teams are assigned as one unit, and will be assigned to fire areas as needed once they arrive at staging areas in California. The local firefighters are expected to help with structure protection and provide relief to California crews battling a number of blazes that have destroyed hundreds of homes.

The Kindcaid Fire in Northern California has scorched more than 66,000 acres in Sonoma County, and is just 5% contained. The Tick Fire in Southern California is 70% contained, with 46,000 acres burned.

Tri-Cities-area firefighters are expected to be mobilized for 14 days in support of CalFire, and according to Cpt. Knowles, will likely be assigned to the Kincaid Fire, but that could change once they get to the staging area and learn their assignment.