North Texas firefighters and medics will join the legions of first responders racing to beat the fires that have engulfed Los Angeles. Six members of Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) make up the hundreds of Texan frontline firefighters assisting in containing fires rapidly devouring the City of Angels.
“We stand in solidarity with the teams of firefighters working to protect lives and property,” said Interim Fire Chief Justin Ball in a press statement. “Dallas Fire Rescue Department is always ready to step in to support our fellow firefighters, especially in these extremely challenging conditions.”
The city is sending a Type 3 fire engine, which is designed to battle wildfires and is equipped with four-wheel drive to navigate rough terrains. The engine is staffed by four wildland firefighters and two medics who will work to provide critical medical support for fire crews.
DFR is a part of the strike team composed of crews from Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen and other area fire departments. The departments sent their firefighters west on Jan. 11, following an order from Gov. Greg Abbott. Earlier that day Abbott deployed the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Texas A&M Forest Service in response to requests from CAL FIRE.
The Texas governor sent 135 firefighters, emergency management and medical personnel and more than 45 emergency response vehicles to Southern California. The long-distance dispatch comes after California tapped its resources as the fires continue to grow. The strike teams were sent for 14 days with the possibility of an extension based on need.
“Our hearts grieve with the entire Los Angeles community as they continue to respond to these destructive wildfires,” said Abbott in a press statement. “Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause to our communities, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis.”
Several other states have joined in the battle against the flames as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a national mutual aid program that allows states to share resources in response to natural and man-made disasters.
“California's always been there for other regions of the country in their time of crisis,” U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California said in an interview with NPR. “And now it's time for the country to be there for California, no strings attached.”
Four large wildfires are spreading across Southern California, the two largest of which, the Palisades and Eaton fires, are sandwiching Los Angeles from the east and west sides. The fires have consumed over 40,000 acres and caused billions of dollars in damage to the greater Pasadena and Santa Monica residential areas.
The rapid growth of the wildfires is attributed to the aridity of the region in conjunction with the naturally occurring high-speed Santa Ana winds. The Palisades fire, predominantly hitting the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, tripled in size within four hours on Jan. 10 as 60-mile-per-hour winds carried embers that ignited the community. The Eaton fire, smaller yet more deadly, surged through the Eaton Canyon and into Pasadena and Altadena, leaving little in its wake. The current death toll is 24, and many others have been reported missing. California Gov. Gavin Newsom told NBC News he expects that number to grow.
Early on, heavy winds prevented airborne efforts to extinguish the fires, and the rough terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains made ground coverage difficult. In addition, the Los Angeles Fire Department recently faced $17 million in budget cuts that significantly limited its abilities to control large fires. The Eaton fire is now 35% contained and the Palisades fire is 17% contained, but the National Weather Service warned of a second bout of “hurricane-force-level winds” expected to hit the Palisades fire.
To boost the community, President Joe Biden has announced $770 payments to those affected by the fires. The payment program comes after it was revealed that State Farm Insurance had canceled fire protection for tens of thousands of homeowners in California.
