Wildland Fire Deployment

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Captain Ryan O’Connor

Office (714) 288-2550 | Cell (626) 394-2035

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2022

Orange City Firefighters Head to New Mexico

On May 18, 2022, seven Orange City firefighters have deployed to combat the largest active wildland fire in the United States. The combined Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire is burning in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico. The Hermit’s Peak Fire started burning April 6, and the Calf Canyon fire started April 19. The two fires merged April 22. As of 9 a.m. May 18, the combined fire has burned nearly 299,565 acres, and is 26% contained.

The seven Orange City firefighters in route to New Mexico, are part of a California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) Type 3 and 6 Strike Team. Their mission is to report to a command post in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and start fighting the massive blaze. The firefighters are committed to the 14 day assignment with a possibility of being extended to 21 days.

The Southwestern United States’ long-term extreme drought, strong winds and high temperatures have created ideal conditions for wildland fires. More than a dozen fires are currently burning in the region. To counter the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon fire, more than 2,090 firefighters and other responders have arrived. The fire has destroyed hundreds of homes and structures, and about 12,000 households have been told to evacuate for their safety.