Maine firefighters head to California to help battle wildfires
Maine forest rangers and volunteer firefighters are headed to California to help fight the wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Two crews from Maine consisting of eight forest rangers and twelve volunteer firefighters will assist in response and recovery efforts for two weeks.
Over the past week, wildfires have burned 40,000 acres in Los Angeles, killing 25 people as of Tuesday night and destroying thousands of homes.
"In times of emergency and crisis, states step up to help one another and that is what we are proud to be doing here," said Gov. Janet Mills. "Our highly trained forest rangers and volunteer firefighters are answering the call to support the people of California and provide much-needed relief to exhausted teams on the ground.”
After a weekend of progress in battling the wildfires, the area is preparing for more dangerous winds that could continue the rapid spread of the fires.
The National Weather Service has issued a warning for high winds in the coming days, which are expected to complicate the efforts to get the fire under control. In addition, the Los Angeles Times reported that the “particularly dangerous situation” went into effect Tuesday morning and will last through noon Wednesday for parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Maine's team was expected to arrive in California by Tuesday evening. It will provide vital relief to ongoing efforts where resources have been stretched thin due to the magnitude of the ongoing fires.
The Mills office said in a release that during deployments, Maine will maintain sufficient personnel to handle local emergencies while providing critical support to other regions.
Maine businesses helping
Regards, a small plates restaurant in Portland, will host a fundraising dinner to support victims of the Los Angeles wildfires on Jan. 31. Profits from the “Ashes to Action” dinner will be donated to World Central Kitchen and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, two organizations providing relief and support. Menu details will be announced soon.
“For those who may not know, I grew up in Los Angeles County and spent a good part of my life in the LA area,” the restaurant’s owner said in a social media post announcing the event. “It’s where my cooking career began, where I still have close friends and family, and where so much of Regards’ inspiration comes from.”
University Credit Union said in a LinkedIn post that beginning Jan. 13, it will open its headquarters as a temporary workspace for members who may need a place to stay connected. The company said it would have reliable power, free Wi-Fi, water and coffee.
“We hope to offer a quiet and comfortable place to regroup and recharge,” UCU said.
How to help
For Mainers wanting to contribute to the relief efforts, here is a Mainebiz list of organizations taking donations, though we recommend doing your own due diligence.
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