North Idaho fire crews deploy to California wildfires

Thirty fire engines and six strike team leaders from across Idaho departed Thursday morning for Los Angeles County, beginning a two-day journey to relieve crews battling devastating wildfires. The Idaho personnel will deploy for 14 days as part of the state's Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

In Shoshone County, local law enforcement and firefighters gave Fire District No. 2 crews a ceremonial sendoff, complete with sirens and flashing lights.

"It was such an honor to watch our crews head out to help others in their worst time of need," said Carrie Simmons, administrative assistant for fire districts 1 and 2.

The Kootenai County Fire Chiefs Association confirmed that North Idaho engines and personnel will join other state strike teams in Southern California. Northern Lakes Fire Protection District contributed three firefighters, a task force leader and an engine to the effort.

"We're sending people who are capable of hitting the ground running," said Chief Pat Riley of Northern Lakes Fire. "The destruction of these fires right now is something I've never seen in my almost 30 years in the career."

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Way said the state of Idaho contacted all fire chiefs Wednesday. His department sent four firefighters and one engine, with plans to rotate personnel if needed beyond the initial 14-day deployment.

"It's a huge scale incident," Way said. "When they return, there will be a ton of lessons learned. Right now, our focus is trying to support the guys that are going out to support the state of California."

The Idaho crews are expected to integrate into firefighting operations by tonight or Saturday morning. Their assignments remain fluid as new fires emerge in the region.

Way referenced his own department's recent experience receiving mutual aid. 

"About two years ago, we put out a call for help, and I remain eternally grateful to those who responded," he said. "It's a horrific thing and it's going to forever change things. It's tearing up communities that have been there forever and emotionally, we feel very sorry for the communities."

The state of California will compensate the deployed departments under pre-existing mutual aid agreements. 

"We negotiate these agreements so that we can provide this well in advance," Riley explained. "It's terrible that it's happening, but I'm very relieved that we did a lot of work over the years to put these contracts in place." 

North Idaho firefighters deployed include:

Tanner Wright (Northside Fire), Ryan Jackson and Reny Hanson (Selkirk Fire Department), Joshua Delamarian, Ryan Shuck, Matt McLeod, Jack Duclos and Alex Hanson (Timberlake Fire), Brad Belmont, Eric Sorenson, Tyler Turrell and Josh Gernns (Northern Lakes Fire), Brooks Brown, Max Buccawich, Shea Vucinich, Paul Musser (Kootenai County Fire and Rescue), Matt Solt, Marta Matthews and Ben Wison (Paradise Valley Fire Department),  Ezekiel Ringe, Kayden Zimmerman, Tyler Rotchford and Scott Dietrich (Shoshone County Fire District No. 2), and Corey Nix, Jakob Zohner and Ethan Gunderson (Worley Fire Department).  

    Kootenai County Fire and Rescue sent Brooks Brown, Max Buccawich, Shea Vucinich and Paul Musser to respond to the wildfires in California early Thursday morning to provide support.
  

    Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 members lt. Ezekiel Rindge, firefighter Kayden Zimmerman, captain Tyler Rotchford and Fire Chief Scott Dietrich pose as they prepared to drive to assist with the multiple wildfires currently raging in Southern California. Members of the Shoshone County Sheriff Office escorted the crews out as they drove to meet other volunteers from Idaho.