Firefighters from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue are preparing to help fight the California wildfires, joining others from Washington County.
The strike team representing Oregon will consist of 20 firefighters coming from TVF&R (which covers Wilsonville), Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue and Banks Fire District. TVF&R will provide two fire engines while the other agencies will contribute one each. Each truck will have at least one paramedic and life-support kits.
Public information officer Stephen Myers said the Oregon fire trucks are “type 1” engines that are typically used for fighting house fires but can also fight wildland blazes.
TVF&R firefighters left Wilsonville Station 52 before noon on Wednesday, Jan. 8 to assist California as four fires burned across Los Angeles County. Officials told CBS news on Jan. 8 that the fires were 0% contained, and there were “a number of significant injuries.” According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 1,000 homes had burned as of Wednesday and two people died. Wind speeds reached 100 mph, according to that report.