COLORADO SPRINGS — Colorado firefighters are responding to a request for help at the wildfires around Los Angeles.
An engine and crew of four from the Stratmoor Hills Fire Protection District arrived in L.A. Thursday afternoon.
“They will direct them where their most urgent need is for the apparatus, and they will respond and start fighting fire,” said Stratmoor Hills Fire Chief, Shawn Bittle.
California has extensive wildfire resources.
The call for extra help from other states speaks to the gravity of the situation in L.A.
Los Angeles is also a highly populated area with a large number of day-to-day calls still requiring fire agency response.
“They are juggling both these wildfires and their normal call load through the 911, system,” said Colorado Springs Deputy Chief, Steve Wilch.
“Although California is a very large state with a lot of resources, just like here, while we're sending one engine out to assist we also have a responsibility to our community to maintain fire protection and emergency medical services,” said Bittle.
Four other Colorado fire agencies are also part of the call to help in California.
Hartsel, Castle Rock, Southern Arkansas Fire Protection, and Four Mile Fire Protections, each sent an engine and crew to fight the Southern California fires.
One of Colorado’s Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) is assisting with flyovers tracking and mapping fires.
More Colorado fire agencies are on standby and ready to go if needed.
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