Hundreds of thousands of Firefighters and National Guard troops are stationed outside of the Rose Bowl, where less than 3 weeks ago the annual Rose Bowl Game was hosted.
Hours after the Eaton fire flared, the area around the stadium was converted into a staging area that nearly 4,000 first responders now call home. The stadium and surrounding parking lots were transformed into a miniature city. There are massive trailers with private sleeping quarters, portable shower facilities, a laundry, a medical facility, a physical therapy trailer, and two kitchens serving thousands of meals a day. There is also an area to fuel and repair fire trucks, as well as a peer counseling center. The 200 acres of open space is already equipped with electricity, water, light towers, and bathrooms, and it is located less than 10 minutes away from the fires. The tents line up in the stadium’s shadow and are surrounded by a colorful collection of red, green, and yellow fire trucks and water tankers from over a dozen states as well as Canada. Twice a day, dozens of trucks lined up in front of sand-colored Humvees and police cruisers and would snake out of the parking lots as another line of vehicles returned, marking the end of a 12-hour shift and the start of another. 60 firefighters have shown up to work every day even though some are fire victims themselves and for them, work has become personal. So many people from all different fire departments have been involved and have responded (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-18/rose-bowl-fires).
Resources, personnel, and equipment are pouring into Southern California from more than half a dozen states and at least three other countries to help fight the fires in the Los Angeles area. The Texas Governor sent the “calvary”, ordering the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy firefighters and firefighting equipment to battle wildfires. to help California, sending more than 130 personnel, and 45 engines. According to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, dozens of Arizona firefighters are battling the blazes in the Los Angeles area. Oregon sent 15 teams to California and sent an additional 6 strike teams recently. More than 300 Oregon firefighters are working on the Los Angeles Area fires. Colorado firefighters have been supporting California’s fire response since the outbreak began. Nine strike teams from Colorado deployed to California this week, including 50 engines. A 25-member team headed west from Nevada to California, including members of the Fire and Rescue Department of Las Vegas. More than 220 firefighters from 11 local fire strike teams in Washington. More than 14 local fire stations in Utah sent crews and resources to California as part of the Unified Fire Authority. Firefighters from Canada and Mexico are also helping to fight the fires including Alberta and British Columbia. Firefighters are from Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado and Texas. More than 14,000 firefighters are helping to fight the Eaton and Palisades fires. A crew of more than 70 firefighters and Disaster Relief Workers from Mexico’s National Forestry Commission and Ministry of Defense flew into the country to provide additional international support.Canada has also been supplying support. Two CL-415 planes, which help battle fires, are annually sent to California from the Canadian province of Quebec. More than 60 firefighters were sent to help battle the California wildfires. Nearly 1,100 incarcerated people have helped fight the Palisades and Eaton fire. Support from the two countries joins resources from Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho and Washington (https://www.foxweather.com/extreme-weather/firefighters-from-around-world-helping-fight-los-angeles-wildfires).
Thank you to all of the First Responders who helped fight the Palisades and Eaton fire. You truly are our heroes and we don’t know what we would do without you. You continue to selflessly work on the frontlines to keep everyone safe. Your dedication and courage in the face of danger are nothing short of inspiring.
