MRFD Engine 311

Firefighters across Western Montana are en route to southern California to help battle the raging wildfires there.

Missoula Fire Department Chief Jason Diehl tells MTN News that seven firefighters, a strike team leader and two engines left Missoula Wednesday afternoon for Chino, California.

Diehl tells us California officials have requested 50 strike teams from Montana and six other states. Each strike team has five engines for a total of 250 engines.

Missoula Rural Fire District is sending a Type 1 engine along with three firefighters. They will meet up with strike team in Utah Wednesday night and expect to arrive in southern California by the end of the week.

Evergreen Fire Rescue posted on their Facebook page that engines 881 and 882 with six firefighters are departing for Southern California as part of a Flathead County wildland strike team to assist in wildfire suppression efforts.

Whitefish Professional Firefighters Local 3995 also posted on their Facebook page that firefighters from their department are mobilizing as part of a strike team with other fire departments in the state to head to California.

From KPAX.com