IMPERIAL COUNTY — On Tuesday, January 7th, at approximately 8:45 p.m., the Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) responded to Yuma, Arizona, in response to a rapidly progressing wildfire near Levy Road and the Colorado River. We have received a request for mutual assistance from the Wildfire Mission. .
ICFD said two single resources, Battalion 2805C and Engine 8, were deployed to support containment and protection efforts. A fire is threatening the River Ranch Mobile Home Park, with strong winds pushing flames dangerously close to residential buildings.
“Our firefighters are equipped to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies like this, both within Imperial County and when nearby communities call for assistance,” said Imperial County Fire Chief David Lanzer. They are being trained,” he said. “The safety of our residents and the protection of property are our top priorities during this deployment.”
Imperial County units will coordinate with incident commanders in Yuma and maintain contact with incident commanders on the scene to ensure consistent and efficient operations, ICFD said.
ICFD called on residents in the affected areas to follow evacuation orders and stay informed of local emergencies.
Separately, the El Centro Fire Department said it is actively working to support local and statewide mutual aid efforts.
On Tuesday night, the El Centro Fire Department responded to a mutual aid request and dispatched a Type 6 engine and a battalion chief to Yuma, Arizona. This incident occurred within the Rural Metro Yuma and Arizona Bureau of Land Management (BLM) response areas.
El Centro Fire, joined by resources from Imperial County and Holtville, worked from 8:45 p.m. to approximately 6:30 a.m. with a focus on protecting structures.
Also on Wednesday, the El Centro Fire Department joined a strike team to help fight the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County. The fire started on January 7th and has already burned 10,600 acres. Containment rate remains at 0% and the cause is currently under investigation.
ECFD dispatched a Type 6 engine, three personnel, and a battalion commander to serve as the attack team leader. The team is working with Imperial County Fire Department and Holtville Fire Department personnel and resources to combat the rapidly spreading wildfire.
“The City of El Centro remains committed to supporting mutual aid efforts across the state and is grateful for the dedication and courage of our firefighters,” the city said.
