Firefighters from San Antonio area deploy to fight California wildfires

Firefighters from the San Antonio area and around Texas have deployed to fight the wildfires ravaging Southern California.

A team of firefighters hailing from Boerne, Schertz, Canyon Lake, Pharr and New Braunfels headed out Saturday to do their part, according to a Facebook post from the Boerne Fire Department. A team of firefighters from Bryan joined them.

This specialized team from across the Lone Star State refers to itself as Texas Strike Team.

“Please join us in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers for a safe and successful mission,” the Boerne Fire Department’s Facebook post reads. “Thank you to our Texas first responders for your service and sacrifice.”

Thousands of homes have been destroyed as the fire enters into its second week, the Associated Press reports. Over the weekend, the death toll rose to 24.

As of Sunday morning, 62 square miles had been consumed by the Palisades, Kenneth, Hurst and Eaton fires with property loss estimated at $150 billion. The Palisades fire is still only 11% contained, and the Eaton fire, the deadliest of the blazes, is at 27%. Approximately 150,000 people remain under evacuation orders.

Texas firefighters are joining firefighting teams from as far-flung as Canada and Mexico as well as eight other states. Together, they’re responding to the blaze with a force of 1,400 fire engines, 84 aircraft and more than 14,000 personnel. These include over 900 incarcerated firefighters working for as little as $5.80 a day, according to the California Department of Corrections.

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This article appears in Jan 8-21, 2025.