By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Three firefighters and an engine from Lewis County Fire District 5 headed out early yesterday morning with a strike team to help with the California wildfires.
District 5 Lt. Laura Hanson said she wasn’t sure exactly where they would would be deployed to.
They are among 193 firefighters from 45 fire departments and districts across Washington which will combine into nine strike teams, according to Washington Emergency Management Director Robert Ezelle. A tenth strike team was to be sent out later yesterday.
As of Thursday, as many as 18 fires were burning in nine counties with an estimated 20,000 people evacuated, primarily in Northern California [1], according to Washington Emergency Management.
“The assistance comes after many of these fire districts have battled wildfires in our own state,” Washington Emergency Management stated.
From the Tenino area fire department, four firefighters headed south to help, Thurston County Fire District 12 Administrative Chief Tina Vanderhoof said. West Thurston Regional Fire Authority is among those listed who have also sent personnel to assist.
Last night, District 5 posted on Facebook that the strike team was safely in place in California and would be assigned today to work in Sonoma or East Napa counties