Arizona sending nearly 200 firefighting personnel to California
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona has assembled a firefighting force of nearly 200 to help California battle deadly and
destructive wildfires.
Spokesman Cliff Pearlberg of the Arizona Land Department says Flagstaff, Lakeside, St. Johns, Elfrieda, Golden Ranch and Rio Rico are sending crews to California.
Type 1 strike teams of five larger engines apiece are coming from Prescott, Surprise, Sun City West, Mesa, Chandler, Apache Junction, Guadalupe, Mayer, Bullhead City, Mohave Valley, Sedona, Cottonwood, Tempe and Pinion Pine, Pearlberg said.
Each engine carries several firefighters, and Pearlberg estimates nearly 200 personnel will be going in the new
deployments to southern California.
“We will be able to fulfill California’s need,” Pearlberg said.
The Arizona firefighters should be in place in southern California by noon Wednesday, Pearlberg said.
The Arizona crews could be there for two weeks.
“Under critical conditions, that could be extended to three weeks,” Pearlberg said.
If California asks for additional firefighters, the Arizona Land Department will then meet with coordinating fire agencies to see what assets are available to battle fires in Arizona before anymore are sent over, Pearlberg said