The call came Sunday morning from the state requesting over 200 firefighters, 50 trucks from 43 cities from across Texas to deploy to California to assist in the wildfires. Plans were immediately put into action. The last deployment 18-wheelers were used to transport the fire trucks, the crews flew to California. The problem was the trucks took over a week to get there. Another difference is this time instead of small grass trucks they are asking for large ones and engines to fight structure fires and protect structures there. This time California is in dire need and the decision was made to drive out. They plan to spend at least two days on the road. From this area New Waverly, North Montgomery County, Conroe, Needham, Porter, Eastex, Baytown, Webster, Galveston, Forest Bend, and Fulshear-Simonton were sent. At 5 am Monday morning crews started to prepare. By 7 am fire trucks covered Buckees parking lot in Katy. By 9 am they were on the road heading for California. They are responding to the Woolsey Fire which broke out last Thursday afternoon near Simi Valley and by Saturday evening had consumed an estimated 83, 275 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Fueled on Friday by low humidity and gusty winds the fire is steadily blazing through Malibu and neighboring canyon communities, as well as the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of West Hils, where mandatory evacuations are in place. Containment stands at only 10 percent. This is a 14-day deployment which means at least 19 days with travel. Most of these crews are going to miss Thanksgiving with their families.
Please keep all these crews in your prayers.
