A firefighter work to put out a fire in the rubble of a home that burned down on Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, as a result of the Palisades Fire. Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Ted Soqui/ CalMatters)
Maine is sending a team of Maine Forest Rangers and volunteer firefighters to help battle the wildfires in southern California that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least two dozen people.
Two crews consisting of eight rangers and 12 volunteer firefighters from Maine will assist with the response and recovery efforts for a two-week period, according to a news release from Gov. Janet Mills’ office Monday afternoon. Over the last week, four fires have devastated more than 62 square miles or about 40,000 acres in the greater Los Angeles area.
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In times of emergency, Mills said states step up to help one another. She thanked the crews, who are expected to arrive in California by Tuesday evening, for their service and bravery. The National Weather Service has issued warnings of continued severe fire conditions through Wednesday, with high winds and the threat of rapid fire spread.
“Our highly trained forest rangers and volunteer firefighters are answering the call to support the people of California and provide much-needed relief to exhausted teams on the ground,” she added.
The crews from Maine will provide relief for the ongoing efforts where resources have been stretched thin due to the magnitude of the fires. As of Monday morning, the Associated Press reported that the two fires that have accounted for the vast majority of the devastation, the Palisades and the Eaton fires, were 11% and 27% contained, respectively.
The Maine Forest Service was also deployed to North Carolina in October to help with the emergency response in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
While the crews are on the West Coast, Mills’ office said Maine will still have sufficient personnel to handle local emergencies.
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