6 Kitsap fire teams respond to SoCal tragedy

All six fire departments in Kitsap County have four firefighters each in Southern California helping battle the deadly wildfires for 14 days.

Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo and Bremerton fire departments, and the fire and rescue teams in North, Central and South Kitsap sent firefighters trained in wildland firefighting.

The fires have killed at least 25 people, demolished more than 12,300 structures and caused hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

BI firefighters are in Pacific Palisades, its website says. They are watching homes and commercial buildings for hotspots and supporting homeowners who are slowly being allowed back in their neighborhoods.

Poulsbo was working on the same fire, working on structural protection, its Facebook page says, although they were anticipating a new assignment.

NKF&R was on the same fire doing the same kind of work, identifying hazards and assisting with any flare-ups or new fires.

Bremerton is on the same fire, and they and the other firefighters are working 24-hour shifts and sleeping in tents so evacuees can stay in the hotels. Crew boss Lt. Jeremy Dixon writes on the department Facebook page that they “watch this beautiful sunset into the Pacific, then you turn around, and it’s like a bomb went off.”

CKF&R public information officer LiMarzi Ileana-small reports on their Facebook site that it’s an emotional time for them, but they appreciate the support from folks there and back home.

SKF&R spent 30 hours providing structural protection in the Bel-Air area and anticipated a new assignment.

Poulsbo Chief Jim Gillard said, “The level of disaster in those communities is something that is almost unimaginable, and everything we can do to support another fire department, we want to do.” The departments will be reimbursed for all costs of the operation, including payment of personnel and equipment use, so folks back home needn’t worry that local tax money is being used, he said.

By the numbers

The California Department of Forestry says the fire is 31% contained. Over 4,270 personnel, 44 helicopters, 476 engines, 58 water tenders and 113 crews are working on it.