Fire departments across San Mateo County have deployed more than 150 personnel along with about two dozen engines and a drone to help fight the massive fires ravaging Los Angeles County.
From Daly City to Woodside and Half Moon Bay to East Palo Alto, local crews are joining a force of more than 7,500 emergency personnel.
“This is an unprecedented emergency and our neighbors in Southern California need all the help we can provide them as these wildfires rage out of control,” said David Canepa, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. “I am so thankful to the firefighters who run to danger when called upon whether it’s in our own backyard or hundreds or even thousands of miles away.”
Strike teams of wildland engines, strike teams of hand crews and numerous other specialized teams totaling 88 personnel have been deployed from the Cal Fire San Mateo/Santa Cruz Unit (CZU), which staffs San Mateo County Fire Department stations along the coast.
"Conditions have been extreme," said Cecile Juliette, spokesperson for Cal Fire CZU, quoting firefighters on the front line. "The wind is very severe, but we are glad to be able to help these communities and support the state's mission. We are assisting these communities that have supported us in the past."
Additional strike teams/task forces totally around 80 firefighters have been sent south along with 18 engines, eight chief officers and numerous other specialized crews from 10 local departments. Equipment includes a drone to assist with air operations.
"We sent one engine on the first strike team. The order came in at 8 p.m. on the 7th and they left at 10 p.m. on the 7th. They made it to Los Angeles in time for the morning briefing" then worked a 24-hour shift at the Palisades blaze, said Pat Murphy, a battalion chief with the Central County Fire Authority, which serves Burlingame, Hillsborough and Millbrae.
"This morning, as part of a task force, we sent another additional engine. They are en route right now to Los Angeles," Murphy said.
The following departments are responding: South San Francisco Fire Department; San Bruno Fire Department; North County Fire Authority; Central County Fire Department; San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department; Woodside Fire District; San Mateo County Fire Department; Menlo Park Fire Protection District; Coastside Fire Protection District; Redwood City Fire Department.
San Bruno firefighters were deployed with a strike team that includes crews from Menlo Park, San Mateo, Redwood City and Woodside to fight the Palisades fire.
“We are honored to serve alongside these brave firefighters as we stand together for our neighbors to the south during this challenging time,” San Bruno Fire said in a Facebook post. “Our hearts and thoughts go out to the communities impacted by these devastating fires.”
Menlo Park Fire sent an engine with four firefighters to Los Angles on Tuesday, a second engine with four firefighters on Wednesday and a third engine with three firefighters this morning, Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen said.
In a post on X, Cal Fire CZU said crews “just pulled into the Incident Command Post after a more than 24-hour shift. Fortunately, everyone is healthy. They say it was an incredibly tough firefight with unrelenting winds.”
San Mateo Consolidated Fire posted a video on X showing a crew deploying for Southern California pulling out of the department’s station on De Anza Boulevard and pulling onto Highway 92.
“Despite now having 13 members and 4 pieces of apparatus assisting with the fires in Southern CA, your (San Mateo Consolidated) fire stations remain fully staffed and ready to protect all of #Belmont, #FosterCity, and #SanMateo. #MutualAid,” the department said in a post on X.
Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
mdurand@smcgov.org