No sooner does one Imperial County Strike Team return to the Valley when another one is deployed.

A Strike Team sent to the Thompson Fire in Butte County last week returned over the weekend. Tuesday, another Strike Team of firefighters was on its way to the Lake Fire in Santa Barbera County. The El Centro Fire Department is responding with a 4X4 off-road capable vehicle owned by the California Office of Emergency Services and assigned to the El Centro Department. Also responding are similar vehicles from the Holtville, Calipatria and Brawley Fire Departments. Brawley Fire is also sending a water tender. The equipment and personnel are assigned to the Lake Fire in Santa Barbera County. The fire was reported on July 5 and has burned over 26,000 acres. It was considered 12 percent contained Tuesday afternoon.