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Fire departments across San Mateo County have deployed more than 150 personnel along with about two dozen engines and a drone to help battle the massive fires ravaging Los Angeles County.
From Daly City to Woodside to Half Moon Bay to East Palo Alto, local teams are joining a force of more than 7,500 emergency personnel.
“This is an unprecedented emergency and our neighbors in Southern California need all the help we can give them as these wildfires rage out of control,” said David Canepa, chairman of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
“I am so grateful to the firefighters who rush into danger when called, whether in our own backyard or hundreds or even thousands of miles away,” he added.
The county said wildland engine strike teams, hand crew strike teams and numerous other specialized teams have been deployed totaling 88 personnel from Cal Fire's San Mateo/Santa Cruz Unit (CZU), which staffs San Mateo County Fire Department stations along the coast.
“The conditions have been extreme,” said Cecile Juliette, a spokeswoman for Cal Fire CZU, citing firefighters on the front lines. “The wind is very strong, but we are happy to be able to help these communities and support the state’s mission. We are helping these communities that have supported us in the past.”
Additional strike teams have also been sent south, totaling 80 firefighters, along with 18 trucks, eight fire chiefs and numerous specialized crews from 10 local departments. The equipment includes a drone to assist with aerial operations.
“We sent a truck to the first strike team. The order came in at 8 p.m. on the 7th and they left at 10 p.m. on the 7th. They got to Los Angeles in time for the morning briefing” and then worked a 24-hour shift on the Palisades fire, said Pat Murphy, battalion chief for the Central County Fire Authority, which serves Burlingame, Hillsborough and Millbrae.
“This morning, as part of a task force, we sent an additional engine. They are on their way to Los Angeles right now,” Murphy said.
The fire departments that responded to the emergency were: South San Francisco Fire Department; San Bruno Fire Department; North County Fire Authority; Central County Fire Department; San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department; Woodside Fire District; San Mateo County Fire Department; Menlo Park Fire Protection District; Coastside Fire Protection District; Redwood City Fire Department.
It should be noted that San Bruno firefighters were deployed with a strike team that includes crews from Menlo Park, San Mateo, Redwood City and Woodside to battle the Palisades Fire.
“We are honored to serve alongside these brave firefighters as we come together to defend our neighbors to the south during this difficult time,” the San Bruno Fire Department said in a Facebook post. “Our hearts and thoughts are with the communities affected by these devastating fires.”
The Menlo Park Fire Department sent one truck with four firefighters to Los Angeles on Tuesday, a second truck with four firefighters on Wednesday and a third truck with three firefighters this morning, Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said.
In a post on X, Cal Fire CZU said crews “just arrived at the incident command post after a shift of over 24 hours. Thankfully, everyone is healthy. They say it was incredibly tough firefighting with relentless winds.”
San Mateo Consolidated Fire released a video in X showing a team deployed in Southern California leaving the department's station on De Anza Boulevard and taking the 92 Freeway.
“Even though we now have 13 members and 4 crews to assist with the fires in Southern California, your fire stations (San Mateo Consolidated) remain fully staffed and ready to protect all of #Belmont, #FosterCity, and #SanMateo. #AyudaMutua,” the department wrote in a post on X.
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