Minnesota Firefighters Are Helping Louisiana First Responders

ST. PAUL, MN — Firefighters from nine Minnesota departments have traveled to Louisiana to help first responders as the state continues to recover from Hurricane Ida, Governor Tim Walz announced last week.

The 22 firefighters arrived Thursday, according to the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. They will be in Louisiana for 18 days to help with fire protection, allowing exhausted first responders in the Bayou State to rest and take care of their own homes and families.

The Minnesota firefighters represent Eden Prairie, Plymouth, the West Metro Fire District, the Centennial Fire District, the Spring Lake Park Blaine Mounds View (SBM) Fire District, Red Wing, Chaska, Brainerd, and Crosslake, according to the Governor's office. They set up base at Nicholls State University, about 60 miles west of New Orleans.

Louisiana had asked for help through an Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows states and territories to help one another during emergencies. Earlier this year, Minnesota National Guard soldiers supported wildlife response efforts in Washington state, Walz's office said.