
Ohio is pitching in to help fight the ferocious wildfires tearing through California. Governor Mike DeWine has dispatched a nine-person fire management team from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry to lend a hand to the beleaguered firefighters on the West Coast. According to a press release from the Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine's office, the request for aid was no surprise, and the team left Columbus today, destined for Beaumont, California.
The situation in California is dire, with the wildfires spreading quickly, urged on by dry conditions and strong winds. The Ohio crew was prepped and ready to respond rapidly, carrying protective gear, chainsaws, hand tools, and various other firefighting equipment. The ODNR fire crews train throughout the year, priming themselves to intervene effectively when disaster strikes.
“We've been anticipating that California may call on our skilled ODNR wildfire response team, so we were prepared and ready to answer the call for help,” said Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine in the statement. The Governor extended his admiration for the crew, highlighting their willingness to leave behind family to assist their counterparts in the West.
Expected to work exhausting shifts lasting up to 14 to 16 hours, the Ohio team starts their Californian endeavor on Monday. ODNR Director Mary Mertz emphasized the professionalism and readiness of the team. “Our fire management crews train year-round to be prepared to step up when called upon,” she said in an assurance that implies as much promise as it does commitment, according to the Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine's official website. The ODNR Division's experience in California includes deployments to Cleveland National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, and Sequoia National Forest, suggesting a well-versed group stepping further into the breach.
The support being provided by ODNR has a two-week timeline attached to it, with likely grueling days ahead for the Ohioans who have traveled so far to help contain the relentless California fires. As the blazes continue, communities on the West Coast are indeed grateful for the reinforcements now headed their way.