PORT ORCHARD — Following a trend that has become a yearly campaign, the South Puget Sound Strike Team comprising firefighters and apparatus from fire districts in Kitsap County has once again headed to California to assist in the fight to douse devastating wildfires.
The fire strike team — with 16 firefighters and paramedics from South Kitsap Fire and Rescue, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, Poulsbo Fire Department, North Kitsap Fire and Rescue and Bainbridge Island Fire Department — headed to fight the 220,000-acre LNV Lightning Complex fire in Northern California.
That fire has claimed four lives and has threatened 30,000 structures. Officials said Monday that just 7 percent of the fire has been contained. Among the businesses destroyed was the 130-year-old Nichelini’s Family Winery, Napa’s oldest family-owned winery.
Another fire, the Walbridge Fire, has claimed 21,000 acres and is 0 percent contained.
It is unclear when the strike team will return to Kitsap County.