Hundreds of firefighters from Arizona are headed to California to help battle the state’s raging wildfires, the largest of which has killed six people and burned more than 100,000 acres.
Nearly 75 engines and 375 fire personnel from Arizona began traveling west Tuesday, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. Arizona’s team is part of a multi-state effort to help fight California’s wildfires including Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and others.
Thank you for the 16 states that have & are sending fire resources to California to help battle the #CarrFire, #MendocinoComplex, #FergusonFire, #WhalebackFire and #CranstonFire. These resources will be helpful in increasing containment on these large wildfires. pic.twitter.com/aySHXaClH2
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 30, 2018
“These fires are taking out anything and everything in their way, taking lives and destroying property. The fires are burning at an alarming intensity and high rate of speed,” Arizona State Forester Jeff Whitney said in a statement. “California needs more boots on the ground and the state of Arizona is committed to sending all the resources we can.”
“We will do everything possible to assist our neighbors, but we also have to be mindful we cannot thin our resources at home,” Whitney added. “Please keep all of our Arizona firefighters, and all of the men and women working these fires in your thoughts.”
The Carr Fire near Redding, California, is the largest wildfire currently burning in the state. It has been raging for more than a week and leads the state’s 16 other fires in the amount of destruction it has wrought. The Carr Fire currently sits as the state’s seventh most destructive fire ever, CNN reports.
The Carr Fire was less than a quarter contained by Monday night.
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