Hundreds of Arizona Wildland Firefighters Supporting Incidents Across the West
Phoenix, AZ (9/14/20) – As new fire starts progress across the west and northwest, Arizona continues to mobilize firefighters to multiple incidents throughout those areas.
As of today, 42 pieces of equipment, including 36 engines and six water tenders, along with two state and cooperator hand crews, are supporting active fires in California, Oregon, and Colorado. In total, 227 personnel are assigned to the El Dorado, Valley, Castle, Creek, Dolan, August Complex and Red Salmon Complex Fires in California, the Cameron Peak and Grizzly Creek Fires in Colorado, and the Beachie Creek and Riverside Fires in Oregon. Due to the fluidity of the situation in those states, crews get assigned and continuously reassigned to various incidents.
While a majority of Arizona’s resources are working on active fires, some engine crews are staged in higher risk areas awaiting any new starts.
Arizona firefighters arrived in California in July after a series of lighting bursts sparked numerous wind-driven wildfires. Resources continue to be deployed depending on at-home availability and need.
Due to the extreme demand for wildland firefighting resources throughout the west, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management also sent two agency Battalion Chiefs to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington to train some of their military in wildfire suppression. Upon the training’s completion, DFFM overhead assigned the military members into two hand crews and mobilized to California for fire assignments.
“It has been a challenging and grueling summer for Arizona and now the west is fully immersed in historical, high fire activity. Our western neighbors support us during our busy period and Arizona always returns the favor to assist them. California started popping fires earlier than normal and has not yet reached the peak of their season. As we receive orders for California and other states, we continue to assess them and mobilize resources on a case by case basis. We must guarantee Arizona remains fully staffed as we cannot deplete our state of critical personnel and equipment,’ said John Truett, Fire Management Officer for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
Typical assignments are 14 days, but some are being staffed for one month.
For more information, contact PAO Tiffany Davila at 602-540-1036 or by email at [email protected].
