Florida Firefighters Head to California to Help With Wildfires

By SUSAN C. SCHENA (Patch Staff)

As emergency crews in northern California continue to battle massive blazes that have broken out there, extra hands from Florida are pitching in to help.

The Florida Department of Agriculture announced Monday it was sending 20 wildland firefighters to help out. Crews in California are battling more than a dozen large wildfires, “ including the quickly growing 60,000-acre Rocky Fire, west of Sacramento,” the department announced in a media release.

“Throughout the years, many out-of-state wildland firefighters have aided our efforts in Florida when our state has been overwhelmed by many large uncontrolled wildfires,” Adam Putnam, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, was quoted in the release as saying. “Today’s brave Florida Forest Service wildland firefighters are proud to return the favor to help protect life, property and natural resources in California.”

While Florida is sending crews to assist, firefighters in Paris have offered moral support via the Internet, as well.

Photo 1 from Florida Forest Service via Facebook.

“ICYMI: We sent a crew yesterday to northern California to assist wildfire suppression efforts. The crew will battle mountainous wildfires in northern California using hand tools like shovels, axes and rakes to manually create a fire break or fire line around the wildfire perimeter.

“Also pictured Georgia Forestry Commission, Alabama Forestry Commission; U.S. Forest Service.”

Photo 2 from Pompiers Paris‏@PompiersParis the official account of the Paris Fire Brigade:

“#CAL_FIRE Keep on it guys! We’re with you.”

And click here for the latest so far today from #RockyFire and #WraggFire.