The wildland fire strike team that left Lamar County late last week arrived in California over the weekend.
Both teams met up with the East Branch Strike Team in Lubbock on Friday before making their way through to California.
Those deployed include Powderly Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Trace Bussell, Reno Volunteer Fire Department and Allen Fire Department firefighter Michael Fox, Paris Fire Department captain Connor Wideman, captain Drew Boren, and Deputy Chief Randy Crawford.
Crawford said that the team was officially assigned to the Creek Fire just outside Fresno, CA. He advised they arrived in Barstow, CA early Saturday morning, resting shortly before making their way to Tollhouse, CA.
Creek Fire is located between Fresno and Lake Mammoth in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. As of Monday morning, the fire was only at 10 percent containment. Since it began on Aug 9, Creek Fire has burned a total of 201,908 acres.
45,000 people have been evacuated, 377 structures have been lost, and another 14,000 are still threatened. According to officials at the fire, Saturday was the 4th straight day; the smoke was so thick the aircraft could not fight the fire.
As of Monday afternoon, Lamar County Emergency Manager Quincy Blount returned to Texas from his deployment.
“We did a crew swap on Sunday afternoon. My last assignment in California was the August Complex West Fire,” he said.
To keep updated on the California fires, you can find all statistical information on the Cal Fire website.
