Orange County firefighters were among members of a team of California emergency responders headed to Florida to assist in relief efforts amid Hurricane Milton ‘s aftermath.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced that 70 California-based firefighters would assist in search-and-rescue efforts prompted by the deadly storm. The announcement follows the deployment of 144 California search-and-rescue personnel earlier this week, who were sent to the Sunshine State before Milton made landfall.
The Orange County Fire Authority has sent 33 personnel, members of the agency’s Type 1 team — a highly specialized group trained to respond to structural collapse and swift-water flood environments.
This weeks deployment marked the first time an Orange County Type 1 team has been deployed in 16 years.
“All of our personnel in Orange County Fire and the agencies that we work with will be laser-focused on life safety and making sure that we can get into the areas that have access challenges,” said OCFA Division Chief Kevin Fetterman. “The positive impact that they will have on the people that they’re able to rescue and help move to the recovery perspective in Florida will be tremendous.”