Missoula, MT – The Missoula Rural Fire District (MRFD) has dispatched a four-person crew, along with a Type 3 Wildland Engine, to assist in combating the ongoing wildfires in California. The team, which was mobilized following a call for assistance on January 8, is expected to arrive in California on the morning of Saturday, January 11.
The deployment comes at a critical time as the wildfires continue to impact large areas of California. Captain Andy Brown of MRFD shared that the firefighters are not only addressing the immediate challenges posed by the fires but are also deeply affected by the personal toll the disaster has on their colleagues and their families in the region. “Not only do the firefighters there have to deal with the emergency situation that they have going on, but they all have family there as well that this fire is impacting,” Brown explained. “For us to be able to go down there and assist not only the locals and the people that live there, but our brothers and sisters in the fire service is a big deal for us.”
The crew from Missoula Rural Fire District is expected to remain in California for approximately 18 days, which includes 14 working days and four travel days. However, the specific fire they will be assigned to has not yet been determined.
MRFD has urged the community to keep everyone affected by the fires in their thoughts and prayers. The fire district’s commitment to aiding those impacted by the devastation underscores the solidarity and strength within the firefighting community during times of crisis.
