Southwest Airlines Provides Charter Flights for Texas Firefighters Combating California Wildfires

(Southwest Airlines)

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Southwest Airlines is providing two charter flights for 330 Texas Firefighters at no cost as they deploy or return from assisting California with several large wildfires.

According to the Frisco Fire Department, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, including resources from throughout Texas, have been providing assistance in California since August 24. Frisco Fire Department provided one wild land firefighting truck and personnel as a part of the mission.

Crews from Texas are assigned to two incidents (August Complex and Creek Fire) and continue to patrol fire lines and extinguish fire.

“Twenty-five fires are actively burning in California with over 3 million acres burned,” said Frisco Fire Department Deputy Chief and TIFMAS North Branch Coordinator, Kyle Mills. “1,196 fire engines and 15, 071 personnel are assigned to the fires statewide including 60 engines and 234 personnel.”

In addition to the resources assigned to wildfire mitigation, Texas Firefighters have also been assigned to incident management within the California Office of Emergency Services.

Mills is currently at the California State Operations Center in Sacramento, CA coordinating Texas resources along with TIFMAS State Coordinator Keith Kiplinger.

Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:

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