Manhattan Beach Firefighters Battling CA Wildfires Return Soon

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Six Manhattan Beach firefighters are out helping the battle against the Creek Fire, Dolan Fire and Bobcat Fire, said Manhattan Beach Fire Department Fire Battalion Chief Ron Laursen. Firefighters are often called from local fire departments to provide needed assistance at emergencies statewide. Laursen reports that all six men are "healthy and doing well."

The Bobcat Fire is a massive blaze that grew to 60,557 acres overnight, and evacuation orders remained in effect in the Antelope Valley today. The unpredictable blaze has been driven by canyon winds. Containment was last reported at 15%.

One Manhattan Beach firefighter/paramedic is assigned to the Bobcat Fire as a fire line paramedic, "there to provide medical care to injured firefighters or incident personnel out on the fire line," said Laursen. "He has been assigned for 12 days and is anticipated to be released in two days."

Engine 22 with four Manhattan Beach Fire Department personnel is at the Creek Fire, which is 20% contained and has burned 248,256 acres in Fresno and Madera counties. MBFD personnel on Engine 22 include a fire captain, engineer and two firefighter/paramedics. "They have been deployed for 12 days and will be assigned for two more," said Laursen. "They have been working on fire line construction and mop up operations."

The Dolan Fire in Big Sur is 45% contained and has burned 127,724 acres in Monterey County. MBFD has a firefighter/paramedic assigned to the Dolan Fire as a fire line paramedic. As with the MBFD firefighter at the Bobact Fire, he is there to provide medical care to injured firefighters or incident personnel out on the fire line. "He has been assigned for 17 days and is anticipated to be released in four days," said Laursen.