Special Firefighters Depart From Harford To Battle Wildfires

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — One Maryland Department of Natural Resources employee started serving this week as a division supervisor at the Lime Fire in Klamath National Forest in northern California. The Lime Fire was one of more than 40 blazes sparked by a lightning storm last Wednesday in the 1.7-million-acre forest, according to The Sacramento Bee. The Lime Fire covered nearly 1,200 acres in flames and was not under control as of Monday, Sept. 9, the newspaper reported.

So far this year, forest experts estimate nearly 61,000 acres have been burned in California.

A group specially trained to handle wildfires gathered at the Madonna Ranger Station over the weekend. Called MDS1, the crew includes four Maryland fire company members and 15 representatives from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (nine from the Maryland Forest Service, four from the Maryland Park Service and two from the Wildlife and Heritage Service).

After convening in Harford County, the group headed for Pennsylvania to meet up with four other Mid-Atlantic crews. They traveled together to their designated staging area in Redding, California. From there, they will be deployed to fight the wildfires that have been raging on the west coast.

Since 1974, the Maryland Forest Service has maintained an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to have trained wildland firefighters who can deploy if needed. This is the first out-of-state deployment for the Maryland team so far this season.

Last year, the crew deployed from Harford County before mid July to help with the 2018 fires.

SEE ALSO:

• California Wildfires 2019: 5 Essential Things To Know
• Firefighters Leave Harford County To Battle Western US Wildfires