Bay Area, Sacramento Firefighters Sent To Battle SoCal Wildfires

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Northern California firefighters have answered the call to save lives, homes and other buildings, along with the canyons and forests of Southern California. Dozens of firefighters and their equipment from the Bay Area, the Sacramento area and beyond are on the fire lines or en route to lend assistance where needed.

The news from Southern California is devastating, with five people reported dead, 70,000 people forced to evacuate their homes, and 20,000 acres charred by 3 p.m. Wednesday. The three most destructive fires, thus far, are the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, the Eaton Fire in Altadena, and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar.

From the Bay Area, a team from CAL FIRE San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit (CZU), got a jumpstart on the fires. They were pre-positioned in Southern California because of a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service. The CZU Unit was put to work on the Palisades Fire soon after it erupted.

The Alameda County Fire Department reported on X, "On January 8, 2025, Alameda County Firefighters are joining county area fire agency partners, including Oakland Fire (OFD), Hayward Fire (HFD), and Fremont Fire (FFD) as part of a @Cal_OES Strike Team headed to Southern California."

The City of Alameda also sent firefighters, as reported on Facebook, "Overnight, the Alameda Fire Department deployed 4 members on OES Engine 409 to the #PalisadesFire in Los Angeles as part of the California Mutual Aid System."

The Sacramento Fire Department said Tuesday night, "Tonight, a @Cal_OES Strike Team consisting of members from @CosumnesFire, @metrofirepio and Sacramento Fire were deployed to the Palisades Fire. This team consists of 22 members that will drive through the night to provide assistance battling this fire."

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) uses strike teams and task forces to respond to wildfires.

Prior to the outbreak of fires, OES has 65 fire engines, 8 water tenders, 9 bulldozers, 8 helicopters, and 105 support personnel pre-positioned in the Red Flag Warning Area — from Santa Barbara County all the way to the Mexican border.

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