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Arizona Firefighters Help California in Wildfire Efforts

The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management has stepped up to support wildfire efforts in neighboring California, where devastation has left thousands displaced. Task force members are reflecting on the emotional and physical toll of the assignment, describing the challenging conditions they’ve faced and the impact on their hearts and minds.

Battalion Chief Rich Jones, one of 150 Arizona personnel assisting in California, shared that the hardest part of the job wasn’t the grueling physical labor or long days filled with smoke. Instead, it was witnessing the immense loss experienced by so many. “There’s thousands of folks that lost everything,” Jones said. “Emotionally, it’s hard to detach and stay focused on your job and continue to produce the quality you need with that much emotion. Our heartstrings were pulled left and right out here.”

Arizona crews are spread across the state of California, with most stationed to handle any new fire outbreaks. One task force is currently battling the Palisades Fire, and the eighth task force was deployed earlier this morning. The experience gained during these missions, Jones says, is invaluable for Arizona’s readiness. “The exposure that we get battling fires all across the Pacific Northwest and all over the world is beneficial to our citizens of Arizona,” he noted. While Arizona may not face the same wildland urban interface challenges, the knowledge gained from these complex fires enhances preparedness at home.

After an exhausting 21-day deployment, Jones and his team will soon return to Arizona. “I’m looking forward to getting home. It’s been a long 21 days, and I miss my family,” he said. “These are precious scraps of time that we trade away from our family for the wildland community because there’s not a lot of us, but we do rally and come together when it’s needed the most.”

Upon their return, the team will receive two mandatory rest days before potentially heading back to California for another 21-day shift if necessary. Their dedication underscores the resilience and commitment of these firefighters, who continue to answer the call in times of crisis.

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