Madison to deploy three more firefighters to California

The Madison Fire Department will dispatch another wildland engine to help fight the Thomas fire in southern California. Three firefighters have volunteered to help.

Wildland Engine Boss Robert Kohler, fireman Gary Landon and paid call firefighter Ches Ricks plan to leave Saturday.

Full-time firefighters David Ivey and Korth Petersen along with paid call firefighter Trent Munns were deployed December 6 to help fight California wildfires. The three returned late Thursday. California fire managers requested the second truck Friday morning.

“It’s not easy being away from your family for Christmas, whether being on shift here in Rexburg or being far away on a wildland deployment,” said Chief Corey Child. “We really appreciate those who volunteered to go to California to help and those who volunteered to staff the fire station here in their stead.”

Some of the California work will involve mopping up active flames or smoldering materials inside control lines. “Mop-up” involves a number of different tasks aimed at putting out the fire and eliminating fuels that could reignite.