Crews and equipment from Houston and other Texas fire agencies responded to the California fires that have destroyed towns from the Pacific Palisades and coastal Malibu to interior Pasadena. The initial workers went out on Sunday and Monday.
More than 45 fire engines, ambulances, command trucks, and equipment have arrived in the Los Angeles area, joining more than 135 Texas firefighters, emergency management, and medical workers. Following California’s call for assistance from other states to combat historic wind-driven wildfires, Texas Governor Greg Abbott took action.
Additionally, the Houston Fire Department sent out vehicles and personnel.
In a statement released on Monday, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said, “I would like to take a moment to express my deepest empathy for those impacted by the devastating fires in L.A.” “Losing a house to fire means more than just losing a structure; it also means losing security, memories, and a lot more. I have firsthand experience with this suffering.
According to Whitmire, his family lost their house while he was in sixth grade.
“It s a feeling that stays with you forever, which is why I know how important firefighters and the community are during these challenging times,” he stated.
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a mutual aid program that allows states to exchange resources and provide assistance to one another in the event of a disaster or emergency, is coordinating the deployment from Texas.
