Orange County Firefighters Lend Mutual Aid In Dixie Fire Battle

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — The Dixie Fire was still raging in Northern California on Wednesday, which was just 30 percent contained. The fire has destroyed nearly 600 homes and burned more than 500,000 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Orange County Fire Authority firefighters were doing their part to battle the enormous blaze, spending weeks on the front lines of the fire.

The Dixie Fire became the Golden State's second-largest wildfire ever recorded on Sunday and decimated the historic town of Greenville last week.

"Our hearts ache for this town," Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted Saturday after surveying the damage in Greenville. The fire has expanded to twice the size of New York City, with smoke columns large enough to create their own weather system.

The fire sparked on July 14 and was thought to be sparked by a blown fuse, according to a report from Pacific Gas & Electric. It was being fanned by dry winds and drought-stricken forestlands.

After Newport Beach firefighters finished their service Monday, crews demobilized and returned home, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Huntington Beach and Orange County Fire Authority firefighters — with hand and structure crews — are still answering the mutual aid call for assistance.

California has a mutual aid system for large fires, OCFA Capt. Paul Holaday tells Patch.

"The requests go statewide and fire departments with available resources send what's needed," he says. For the Dixie Fire, OCFA firefighters answered the call sending a Type 1 Strike Team of five engines, a battalion chief and crew for structural defense. For this firefight, OCFA did not send a hand crew, according to Holaday.

"The units lending aid in the north are based all over the county," he said. "They are each from different cities so that one area is not impacted."

Getting the vehicles and commanders to the Dixie Fire was key, he says. The crew will stay for approximately two weeks. If there is still a need, vehicles will stay and OCFA Firefighters will be rotated home when a relief crew arrives.

Meanwhile, in Orange County, resources have been called in to support the fire stations in the remote crew's absence. They will defend homes in the area while their counterparts manage the front lines of the Dixie Fire.

READ MORE:

• Dixie Fire Becomes CA's Second Largest Wildfire Ever
  
• CA College Professor Charged In Setting Blazes Near Dixie
  
• PG&E Says Its Equipment May Have Sparked NorCal Fire
  
• CA Town Destroyed, 8 Missing In Largest Active Wildfire In U.S.Fire