Locals deploy to Canyon Fire 2, others wait to hear from loved ones in NorCal
Some people in the Coachella Valley are trying to get in touch with family and friends in Northern California. And local firefighters are being deployed to Orange County to help fight the Canyon Fire 2. One strike team out of Cathedral City is assigned to the fire lines in Anaheim.
News Channel 3/CBS Local 2’s Lauren Coronado spoke with Cathedral City Fire Department’s Battalion Chief Eric Hauser as he was leaving the fire station to help contain Canyon Fire 2.
“I’m actually on an immediate need request…We’re going to be assigned to the Canyon 2 incident. It’s my understanding that they’re losing houses and it’s spreading at a rapid rate,” Hauser said.
Hauser and a strike team of five engines were deployed Monday afternoon.
“We’re prepared to go out and meet the needs. We train for these incidents on a routine basis. We’re deployed several times a year, so we’re ready to go out and save some homes,” said Hauser.
Meanwhile, the larger fires are scorching the Napa wine country. Ken Spero, from Indio, and his wife woke up to see parts of their hometown turn to ash.
“Its total devastation. A lot of places where we grew up, like my wife’s childhood home up is burned to the ground…as far as i know, the Junior High i went to is burning up as we speak. It’s bad. It’s really bad,” said Spero.
Spero is still waiting to hear back from some friends, but his father-in-law sent him a photo of his house fully engulfed in flames, forcing him out in seconds.
“All he got out with was his truck and the clothes on his back. I’m actually headed home to dig through my closets and send some clothes to send to him. When it directly impacts you in the area you grew up in and you have family and friends there it’s brutal because you feel helpless when your 600 miles away,” Spero said.
Palm Springs Battalion Chief Robert Wright says dry brush is a culprit for both out-of-control fires.
“With the dry brush and the high winds, it’s a recipe for disaster,” Wright said.
Wright’s team isn’t in rotation for deployment this time but he says, for those who are, more crews are called in to work in their place.
