Yuma, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) has received a mutual assistance request from California officials to join the Imperial Valley Stack Team in responding to the “Rabbit Fire” in Riverside County.
The request was received around 1:45 p.m. Saturday, July 15, according to a press release. An hour after California authorities sent the request, YFD personnel and fire engines left Yuma for Imperial County, California, to meet with the strike team.
The YFD said the strike would consist of “several fire brigades with selected personnel and team leaders from different departments”. The team will stay together until the deployment is finished. Team members are assigned to neighborhood structure protection duties.
YFD staff are prepared to go out for up to two weeks, but YFD hopes to return early. The last time YFD personnel were sent with a striking team was in September 2022 to fight the “Fairview Fire” near Hemett, Riverside County, California.
