TEXAS, USA — A second TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) crew from the San Angelo Fire Department has deployed to the Texas Panhandle to help other firefighters with wildfires that have increased to more than a million acres this week.
The first SAFD crew arrived in the Panhandle earlier this week with a Type 6 fire truck to help fight the fire that continues to spread.
Wednesday, SAFD Assistant Fire Chief Johnny Fisher said four SAFD personnel, including a strike team leader, deployed from San Angelo to the Panhandle. He said the team is among the at least 150 additional strike team personnel who have responded to the Panhandle.
"Our strike team leader is very well-experienced at fighting wildfires," Fisher said. "He said he's never seen anything like this before in his life."
Calls were made for Type 1 fire trucks, which are for fighting structural fires, Fisher said Wednesday.
A administrator from the Grape Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Michael Diaz, also deployed to the Panhandle Thursday morning with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the VFD said on social media. Diaz is an ISTF Regional Disaster Finance Coordinator with TDEM, and has been deployed to help communities with cost tracking, damage assessments and other financial recovery activities.