Livermore-Pleasanton Firefighters Sent To Battle Northern California Wildfires

PLEASANTON, CA — Thirteen firefighters from the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department have been deployed to join the 8,000 firefighters battling the massive wildfires burning in the North Bay. Engineer Matt Thau, who is assigned to the Atlas Fire in Sonoma County as a field observer, will provide information to the Incident Management Team and crews operating in the field to build the operational plans and provide for crew safety, Deputy Fire Chief Joe Testa said.

Engine 91 was deployed late Sunday night to the Tubbs Fire in Napa County with a strike team of engines from Alameda County and Fremont Fire departments.

“They went immediately to work on arrival, and fought fire with minimal available resources for around 70 hours before being given their first rest break last night,” Testa told Patch. “They are returning to the fire line this morning.”

Also See: California Crews Using 'Back Burning' To Contain The Fires

Testa said Engine 399 deployed on Tuesday afternoon to the Adobe Fire in Bennett Valley.

“They went immediately to work on their arrival and worked all night on structure protection, a firing operation, and firefighting. They are on a rest break this morning”

OES Engine 340, which is owned by the state but housed by LPFD, deployed to the Tubbs Fire on Wednesday morning. More than 8,000 of firefighters, 640 police officers and hundreds of relief workers from all over the state and as far away as Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, and the Carolinas have been deployed to help with the firefighting efforts.

Crews and equipment from Australia many be brought in to assist, according to Cal Fire. Cal Fire officials said that as they get a handle on the Wind Complex and Nevada County fires, they will redeploy strike teams to other fires.

Read More:

• Northern California Wildfire Latest: Death Toll Climbs To 26; Fires Merge; 191,437 Acres Burned

Photo 1 of OES Engine 340 preparing for deployment at Station 4 in Pleasanton courtesy LPFD
Photo 2 Fire taken by crews on Engine 91 Sunday night