KXO RADIO - Local StrikeTeam released today

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Todays is : Saturday, 30 August 2008

Written by George Gale
Friday, 01 August 2008
(The local Strike Team is coming home)….The 21 firefighters from Imperial County and Yuma should be back some time between 1:00 am and 2:00 am Saturday. In coming Imperial County Fire Chief Tony Rouhoutas confirmed the news this morning. On July 26, five engines from the El Centro, Brawley, Imperial, County and Yuma Fire Departments were sent to help in the Telegraph Fire in Mariposa County. That fire is now 45 % contained. The local strike team was reportedly being demobilized today. Kayla Holiman a fire inspector with the Yuma Fire Department said the drive back takes about 15 hours. She said the entire team was in good spirits, but all were feeling the effects of fighting a fire in high altitudes and steep terrain. Holiman said the team was assigned to structure protection, but their duties also included climbing hills and using hand tools to attack the fire. None on the local strike team was injured.