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Second City of Helena fire crew deployed to California

Posted at 7:07 PM, Sep 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-29 21:07:26-04

A second crew from the City of Helena Fire Dept. has deployed to the August Complex fire in Northern California.

Last Friday, Capt. Mike McDaniel, Capt. Doug Fischer and firefighter Brent Wunderlich replaced another fire crew sent to that area two weeks prior to provide mutual aid as California continues to battle the largest fire in the state’s history.

According to Helena Asst. Fire Chief Mike Chambers, the State of California sent a request nationwide for 350 more engines, Type-1 through Type-6, and will most likely struggle to get these due to ongoing wildfires throughout the western U.S.

“The Helena Fire Department will do what it can to assist others in need, but this is only after assuring that the needs of Helena, the citizens, and the overall community are met,” said Chambers.

The crew is currently on a 14-day assignment with additional days for travel, as well as any additional medical testing or quarantine upon their return.