Maryland Dispatches Two Additional Crews To Battle California Wildfires
Governor O’Malley commends selflessness and courage of Maryland firefighters

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ANNAPOLIS - The Maryland Forest Service today dispatched two 20-person Type 2 Initial Attack crews to Redding, Calif., where they will be assigned to active fire incidents or made available to local ranger districts for initial attack on new fire starts. The crews include 14 Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) personnel, 18 members of the Maryland Fire Service, and personnel from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Resource Conservation & Development Service, Alleghany College, Garrett Community College, and the National Civilian Conservation Corps. All are certified wildland firefighters.

“The courage and selflessness of our Maryland personnel has never ceased to amaze me. Their willingness to see beyond themselves, leave their homes and families, and bravely assist their brethren on the fire lines out west is to be commended by every Marylander who benefits from the protection of these brave men and women,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “This wildfire season has been especially brutal for California, and I am proud to say that Maryland is able to provide this assistance to our sister states in their time of need. Because natural disasters know no State or geographic boundaries, neither therefore should our willingness or ability to help when needed.”

The Maryland crews traveled from the Madonna Ranger Station in Jarrettsville last night to a mobilization center in Harrisburg, Penn., where they joined a third 20-person crew from New Jersey. The three crews, which were ordered by the Northern California Operation Center on a preposition order, left from Harrisburg International airport by charter jet this morning for Redding. They may be assigned anywhere in Northern California after arrival.

“Firefighters in California have been battling multiple fires all summer long; with this team, we hope to provide some relief and extra help for their crews,” said Maryland Forest Service Director Steve Koehn.

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July 22, 2008

Contact: Kara Turner 410-260-8018 katurner@dnr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.