Benton crew returns from fire-ravaged California
Benton County firefighters returned home Monday after spending a week battling California’s deadly wildfires.
The four strike team members were part of a 20-person regional crew that set out Nov. 11 to help. Firefighters from Walla Walla, College Place and Stevens and Chelan counties also were part of the team.
The Tri-City firefighters arrived back in town late Monday morning, said Lt. Tracy Baker of Benton Fire District 1.
They were stationed at the base camp at Freedom Park in Camarillo and were assigned to battle fires that flared up with the Santa Ana winds in the Woolsey Fire near Los Angeles and Ventura counties, according to their Facebook posts.
That fire has killed three people and destroyed about 1,130 structures, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Camp Fire in northern California is even worse — the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history.
More than 15,000 structures have been destroyed, including more than 11,700 homes, the newspaper reported
It was 66 percent contained as of Monday morning, the paper reported.
This story was originally published November 19, 2018 at 3:57 PM.