A squad of East Bay firefighters are in Southern California to help fight a wildfire that has burned thousands of acres and destroyed dozens of structures, authorities said.
The 22-member strike team was assembled from the Contra Costa Fire District along with the Alameda County, Fremont, Hayward and Livermore-Pleasanton fire departments. Support officers have also been dispatched.
They were deployed to fight a wildfire in Sequoia National Forest, about 50 miles northeast of Bakersfield. The fire began Monday and as of Wednesday night has burned more than 16,000 acres, along with eight homes and six outbuildings near the town of Kernville. Firefighters had it about 12 percent surrounded Wednesday night.
About 40 miles south, a 1,400-acre blaze in the Old West Ranch community about 10 miles south of Tehachapi was 25 percent contained. Fire officials hope to have it fully contained by Friday.
Officials say between 25 and 40 structures, most of them homes, were lost to the fire. Another 150 homes remain threatened.
Wire services contributed to this story.
Contra Costa Times
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