Chelan Fire and Rescue and Wenatchee Valley firefighters are in Southern California Friday to assist where needed in putting out the destructive wildland fires in Los Angeles County.
A series of four wildfires have killed five people, burned more than 6,000 structures and at least 130,000 residents are under evacuation orders, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Chelan Fire Captain Taylor Rains and firefighters Stephanie Preheim, Duke Odenrider and Brandon Fogelson are joined by Wenatchee Valley firefighters firefighters Sean Clarke, Jorge Ramos, Cole Clark and Jordan Kunz.
The firefighters are on an up to 18-day assignment.
"We're al all hazards department," said Chelan Fire and Rescue Chief Brandon Asher in speaking of the preparedness of the Chelan crew for helping battle the California fires. "Our guys are very very prepared. We have great experience in the wildland firefighting world. I would say that one of our specialties is in wildland firefighting. We do it year after year, if not here, for our mutual aid neighbors."
Chief Asher says it appears that California is experiencing fire conditions similar to what we did in Chelan in the 2015 wildfire.
"Knowing fire behavior and knowing how wind can push fires, it's kind of that same set up," said Chief Asher. "You get (fire) spotting, pushed by high winds."
Local firefighters ask property owners to be diligent about creating defensible space around their homes and buildings to keep fire away.
Chief Asher directed citizens to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Wildfire Ready Neighbors website for more information.
Working with state and federal forest managers to protect against a fire start, Chelan Fire District 7 is also helping develop a community wildfire protection plan with regional fire agencies.
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