Yuma firefighters return from battling Calif. blazes
The four city of Yuma Fire Department firefighters who were deployed to help with California wildfires completed their two-week assignment Monday and have returned to Yuma.
The four firefighters — Fire Capt. Erik Lohman, fire engineer Juan Garcia, firefighter Jose Huizar, and firefighter Eric Mendevil — were part of an Imperial Valley Task Force response to a mutual aid request back on December 5.
The Task Force itself remained in place at the Thomas Fire with four additional YFD firefighters leaving Yuma Monday, arriving last night to take the place of those who came home.
The task force members from other agencies were also replaced by fresh personnel. It is not known at this time how long the task force will continue to be needed, but those freshly deployed are prepared to be gone up to two weeks.
The Imperial Valley team originally worked on the Creek Fire, but on December 10 they were released and reassigned to the Thomas Fire burning near Ventura, Calif.
At last report the Thomas Fire had burned over 270,000 acres and was 50 percent contained, with more than 8,000 personnel involved in the firefighting efforts. YFD personnel are currently assigned to structure-protection duties.
Captain Lohman shared that the 24-hour shifts locating and extinguishing hot spots left little time for breaks and rest. He and the others who returned today were all glad to be home, especially in time for Christmas.