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Territorial Dispatch

Local Fire Departments Assist in LA Fires

Jan 14, 2025 01:36PM ● By Shamaya Sutton

Crews from the Olivehurst Fire Department arrive at Pacific Palisades in Los Angeles county on Jan. 8 to help battle the wildfires. Photo courtesy of the Olivehurst Fire Department


CALIFORNIA (MPG) - In wake of what could be the costliest wildfire in U.S. history, local fire departments are banding together to assist their brethren in Los Angeles County. 

These efforts were announced almost simultaneously on Jan. 8 with the formation of a special strike team referred to as XYU-3300C. This team includes members of the Yuba City Fire Department, Marysville Fire Department, Olivehurst Fire Department, Linda Fire Department and the Hamilton City Fire Protection District.

“We’re a small combination fire department on the border of Butte and Glenn counties,” said Christopher Mickelson, Hamilton City’s fire chief. “They needed one more fire engine, so I put one of my volunteer engines up.”

The Yuba City Fire Department is currently deploying engine 34 to Southern California while Marysville will be responding with engine 216 and a crew of three. 

Linda deployed OES Engine 3101 and Engine 262 and Olivehurst reported sending engine 316 while asking residents to keep their firefighters and everyone on the team in their thoughts as they help battle the blaze. 


Here is a view of the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County taken on or around Jan. 8. Photo courtesy of the Linda Fire Department


The City of Yuba City also extended its thanks to all first responders for their bravery and dedication, urging them to stay safe.

Several large wildfires have ignited across Los Angeles County, causing widespread destruction, forcing evacuations, and threatening thousands of homes. The fires began in early January and have already burned more than 35,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 structures and resulted in at least 24 fatalities, as of press time Jan. 13.

The Palisades Fire, which started on Jan. 7 in the Pacific Palisades area, remains one of the largest and most devastating, so far consuming approximately 23,700 acres. As of Jan. 13, it was only 14% contained, according to The Times.

Close behind is the Eaton Fire, which also began on Jan. 7 in the Pasadena-Altadena area and had already scorched more than 14,100 acres, as of Jan. 13, when firefighters managed to contain about 30% of the blaze. Tragically, it claimed 16 lives as of press time, far making it one of the deadliest wildfires in California's history, according to the New York Times. 


Crew members of the Hamilton City Fire Protection District assist with battling the Palisades fire in Los Angeles County as part of 3300C. Photo courtesy of the Hamilton City Fire Protection District


Other fires, such as the Hurst and Sunset fires, have been somewhat more manageable, with the Hurst Fire reaching 76% containment and the Sunset Fire fully contained by Jan. 9. Several other smaller fires, such as the Archer Fire which started on Jan. 10 in Granada Hills, continue to pop up throughout the area, adding to the workload of emergency response teams.

Other fires, such as the Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley, have been more manageable, burning approximately 800 acres with 89% containment. Still others, including the Kenneth Fire near Calabasas, scorched 1,000 acres and are now fully contained.

These fires have been fueled by a combination of dry conditions, strong Santa Ana winds and the region's ongoing drought. Emergency crews continue to battle the blazes, with fire officials issuing warnings for continued high-fire danger due to gusty winds and low humidity, expected to persist into the coming days. Investigations are ongoing to determine the specific causes of these fires. Notably, a lawsuit has been filed against Southern California Edison, alleging that faulty equipment might have sparked the Eaton Fire, according to the Associated Press. Fire officials said they will continue to monitor the situations and release more information as it becomes available.