(The Center Square) – Ohio firefighters are in California in response to the state’s request for additional help to fight ongoing wildfires.
Ohio sent nine members of its fire management team from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to help California firefighters after fire managers in southern California requested additional resources late last week.
“We’ve been anticipating that California may call on our skilled ODNR wildfire response team, so we were prepared and ready to answer the call for help,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said. “I commend the members of our brave crew who are leaving their loved ones in order to support their counterparts on the West Coast.”
ODNR Media and Outreach Specialist Karina Cheung did not respond before publication on the costs of sending Ohio personnel to California. Support was requested for 14 days, and crews were expected to begin work Monday.
Officials said a typical workday would be between 14-16 hours.
ODNR’s response team is stationed in Beaumont, Calif. It brought protective equipment, hand tools, chainsaws and a variety of other supplies.
“Our fire management crews train year-round to be prepared to step up when called upon,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “We wish them a successful and safe journey as they fight to protect communities in southern California.”
Last year, the ODNR Division of Forestry provided wildland firefighting help in California at the Cleveland National Forest east of San Diego, the Los Padres National Forest west of Los Angeles, and the Sequoia National Forest east of Bakersfield.
According to news reports, predicted rain is expected to help fight the fires throughout Southern California, but with it comes the risk of mudslides and toxic ash runoff.
Most of the area is expected to get about an inch of rain over the next several days, but local downbursts could create other issues.
