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Strike Teams doing well

Todays is : Thursday, 08 January 2009

Written by George Gale
Friday, 26 October 2007
(A decision expected some time Friday on Strike Teams)…..Imperial County has two Strike Teams assisting in the Southern California wildfires. One five engine 22 man Team has been in San Diego County since Sunday night. They were dispatched to the Witch Fire just hours after it started. A second Strike Team, that included an engine and crew from Yuma, was sent Monday night to the Lake Arrowhead fire in San Bernardino County. El Centro Battalion Chief Richard Burns says the local firefighters are very tired, but doing well. Chief Burns said only one of the local firefighters, from the County Department, suffered a minor eye injury. He was treated and has returned to the fire lines. Burns said officials are assessing the fires today. He said if it is determined the Strike Teams will be needed into the weekend, the crews will be rotated, with fresh firefighters taking over for the ones who have been working all week with little or no rest. Burns said the 47 member Teams are pretty much the limit as to what the local departments can spare. He said, however, rotation plans have been developed, and will be implemented, depending on the Friday assessment.