WILKES-BARRE — There’s an old saying that you fight fire with fire.
Nah, not true.
The reality is that you fight fire with firefighters.
Just look across our country, 3,000 miles away, and you will see what I mean.
Watch the TV reports that depict the severity of the fires that have caused millions and millions of dollars in devastation and have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
And watch those firefighters — bear witness to their skills, their bravery and their dedication to their jobs.
This week, Gov. Shapiro announced that Pennsylvania is deploying two crews of highly trained wildland firefighters, coordinated by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), to California to help combat the devastating wildfires near Los Angeles.
This deployment is taking place as a result of a request for assistance from the state of California.
These 40 firefighters will bring their expertise and commitment to protect lives, homes and natural resources in communities outside Los Angeles.
“Today, 40 of Pennsylvania’s skilled wildland firefighters are heading to California to assist in the battle against these devastating fires,” said Shapiro. “Pennsylvania stands ready to help our fellow Americans — and these brave, highly trained firefighters are answering the call and heading to California to join the ongoing work to help protect lives and entire communities.”
It’s good to know that Pennsylvania is doing this, as are firefighters from many places outside of California who have joined the battle to contain and stop the fires from spreading.
The crews, comprising 40 firefighters, departed on Jan. 24 and they were are expected to arrive in California on Monday, Jan. 27. This dedicated team includes both experienced DCNR staff and volunteer wildland firefighters from across Pennsylvania, exemplifying the Commonwealth’s collaboration to assist other states in times of emergencies and readiness to answer the call for help.
“Our firefighters stand ready to meet the challenge of protecting lives, homes, and natural resources,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “Pennsylvania’s wildland firefighters are among the best in the nation, rigorously trained to national standards and widely respected for their expertise in wildfire management. We are proud to contribute our skills and resources to support California’s communities during this critical time.”
California needs all the help it can get — and they need it now.
The Governor’s office said each team is structured to operate effectively in the most demanding conditions, with 20 members led by a crew boss and three squad bosses.
They will work and live together for the duration of their 14-day deployment, with tasks including:
• Installing water lines and sprinkler systems to protect fire lines and buildings.
• Improving defensible space around homes in the path of wildfires.
• Reinforcing critical fire containment strategies to prevent further spread.
In addition to the deployed crews, Pennsylvania already has a trained liaison on the ground in Los Angeles, facilitating coordination between the U.S. Forest Service and East Coast fire crews.
The DCNR Bureau of Forestry remains at the forefront of wildfire management, leveraging decades of experience and expertise to protect public and private lands from the devastating effects of wildfires.
Firefighters have many mottos that they live by every day. Among them are:
“Semper Paratus” (Always Ready).
“Watch one, do one, teach one.”
“Safety first, always.”
Godspeed to all the firefighters who risk their lives every time they are called to duty.
And God bless all who have been called to duty in California.