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Cathedral City crews sent to Thomas Fire

The Cathedral City Fire Department has gone west and responded to the Thomas Fire in Ventura County.

Fire Chief Paul Wilson told KESQ News Channel 3’s Alexandra Pierce that once they saw the weather report they knew there would be trouble. Their first order of business is protecting homes.

“Got over 8,000 people that are evacuated without electricity because of power lines being down and they’re just really bumping from neighborhood to neighborhood to save as many homes possible,” Wilson said.

He said with any wildfire, being prepared is the most important thing anyone can do, especially when it comes saving your home.

“We tell people it’s all about defensible space and if you have that 50 to 100-foot area around your home that’s cleared of any kind of vegetation, that certainly can save your home and we see fire go through neighborhoods and those who have prepared and cleared all the brush and have the combustibles away from their homes have been spared. Those that don’t? Unfortunately, their homes are lost,” Wilson said.

Fire officials are asking everyone here to be careful when it comes to fire safety this week.

“We’re going to be on high fire weather watch as far as red flag warning all the way through Saturday even here in the Coachella Valley so just be very cautious of any cigarettes or tow chains that are dragging,” Wilson said.

Cal Fire crews are also responding to the Creek and Thomas fires.They sent 15 people and 150 inmates to help fight the fires.

Wilson said their department is on standby to send a command team Tuesday. If that crew is deployed, they will be there to help manage the strike team.

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