Eight San Antonio area firefighters and three pieces of brush fire equipment are on their way to California, after Gov. Abbott activated the Texas A&M Fire Service to help fight the devastating California fires, and urged local fire department to pitch in as well, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
San Antonio Fire Department spokesman Woody Woodward says the personnel making the trip are from the SAFD, Schertz, and Grey Forest Fire Departments and Bexar County Fire District 7, all of them trained in brushland firefighting.
Three apparatus will also make the trip to California, making up what has been designed as Task Force 10.
Abbott says a total of 200 firefighters with 55 badly needed pieces of equipment, as well as the Texas A&M Forest Service, have answered the call and will deploy to California.
“When disaster strikes, it is imperative that the call for help is answered, and that is exactly what these men and women serving in fire departments across Texas are doing,” said Governor Abbott. “As California continues to fight these fires, Texas will be sending its bravest firefighters to aid in their efforts. Our prayers go out to all who have been impacted by these devastating wildfires, and the State of Texas will continue to offer any resources to aid in the recovery process.”
The Texas teams will have to drive the equipment to the fire scenes in California and are expected to arrive on Wednesday.