Newport Beach Firefighters Return Home Amid Statewide Wild Fires

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Nearly 30 Newport Beach firefighters have been deployed during the past several weeks to help battle some of the record-breaking wildfires that have consumed more than 3.4 million acres throughout California so far this year.

Newport Beach firefighters have been deployed at four fires throughout the state: The Bobcat Fire in L.A. County, the El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino, the Oak Fire in Mendocino, and the Creek Fire in Fresno.

Those firefighters returned home Saturday at the end of a two-week deployment. A fresh crew of 8 firefighters went out in their stead.

“I want to acknowledge the incredibly difficult work being done by members of our Newport Beach team and firefighters throughout the state of California,” said Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles. “These are the most challenging fires we have ever faced in California. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and stamina to battle these fires over 12-hour shifts.”

One U.S. Forest Service firefighter lost his life in the El Dorado Fire, the agency announced Friday. That blaze began through pyrotechnics used at a gender reveal party over Labor Day weekend.

“It’s a tragic reminder to everyone that bad decisions can have deadly consequences,” Boyles said. “Under these dry, hot conditions, there is no place for fireworks of any kind.”

In addition to the wildfire deployment, Boyles shared that members of the Newport Beach Fire Department worked as part of an Orange County team to protect high risk areas within the County.