Firefighters return from Calif. blazes in time for holiday
Four firefighters from the City of Yuma Fire Department, who deployed earlier this week to help with California wildfires, were no longer needed and have returned home just in time for the holidays.
The four firefighters — Fire Capt. Brian Friar, fire engineer Jesse Townley, firefighter Alex Diaz, and firefighter Leo Gonzales — were part of an Imperial Valley Task Force response. They replaced a crew the YFD previously sent on Dec. 19, in answer to a mutual aid request back on December 5.
They were notified early Thursday afternoon that they were being demobilized later in the day, and began the process that ended with them beginning their trip back to Yuma. They arrived back in Yuma after midnight this morning.
Yuma’s firefighters, working as a part of an Imperial Valley Task Force, first left for assignment to the “Creek Fire” on Tuesday December 5th. Since then the Task Force was reassigned to the “Thomas” Fire in Ventura, CA.
YFD firefighters worked 24 hour shifts (24 hours on and 24 hours off) protecting homes and dealing with spot fires in their assigned areas. Their duties involved significant amounts of hiking in varying terrains. They were part of an effort involving more than 8,000 fire personnel.
The Thomas Fire, which is burning in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, is now the second-largest in state history. It has scorched 272,800 acres and destroyed 1,063 structures, according to officials.
The blaze, which is 65 percent contained, also threatens 18,000 structures. It’s currently unclear what sparked the Thomas Fire.
All YFD personnel are returning back to their regular duty assignments.