Grand County firefighters head to help battle the ongoing wildfires in California

Grand Fire Protection District No. 1/Courtesy Photo
As multiple fires blaze across the Los Angeles area, fire department personnel from Grand County have arrived to assist.
Grand Fire Protection District No. 1 and Grand Lake Fire Protection District sent firefighters Jan. 11. Teams landed the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 12, in Beaumont, California.
From there, they will join strike teams throughout the area to battle fires that have killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
According to Grand Fire Chief Brad White, five firefighters from Grand Lake Fire are assisting along with four from Grand Fire. In addition, Capt. Tyler Campbell, the division chief of special operations for Grand Fire and Grand Lake Fire, will lead Strike Team 7 in California.
According to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, there are currently nine strike teams fighting the Los Angeles fires. Grand County firefighters are in Teams 2 and 7. These two strike teams are assigned to the Palisades Fire and will be working from Malibu, White said.
The Grand County firefighters are expected to be in the field for 14 days but the total time could be shorter or longer depending on the fire activity, White added.
Campbell brought a pickup truck and Grand Fire brought its Engine 342. White stated that Colorado has assisted California with about 50 engines or trucks as of Sunday.
“Many of the Western states are sending help, but — looking online — Colorado’s response is probably the largest,” White said.


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