EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The State of Texas will be sending more than 135 firefighters and other personnel and more than 45 fire engines and other firefighting equipment to help battle the raging urban wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Gov. Greg Abbott’s Office said Saturday, Jan. 11.
Abbott announced that he has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Texas A&M Forest Service to deploy firefighters, emergency management and medical personnel, fire engines and other equipment to assist with the wildfire response in California.
Abbott said he is responding to a request for assistance from CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) through the California Office of Emergency Services.
“Our hearts grieve with the entire Los Angeles community as they continue to respond to these destructive wildfires,” Abbott said. “Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause to our communities, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis.
“I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy firefighters, fire engines, and firefighting equipment to help our fellow Americans battle these wildfires. I thank all the brave firefighters and first responders who are answering the call to help Californians in need as these fires continue to burn. Cecilia and I pray for the victims who lost their lives and their families, the heroic men and women of CAL FIRE, the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the entire state of California during this difficult time,” Abbott said.
This deployment is coordinated under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). EMAC is a state-to-state mutual-aid system that enables states to provide assistance and share resources with another state in response to a disaster or emergency, Abbott’s Office said.
Read: Read More