SAN DIEGO, California — Nine people with the Ohio Division of Forestry were sent to California to help with the ongoing wildfires last week.
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News Center 7′s Mason Fletcher talked with Tom Macey, who has been on a few trips like this in the past.
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“We’ve been assigned to the Cleveland National Forest,” Macey said. “Where we’re working particularly is just north of the San Diego area.”
Macey has been with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry for 13 years, and says he goes on trips like this once or twice a year.
Macey is a part of the crew that arrived in California Monday.
“We had a few days to prepare, knowing that we were going to be listed as available to come out here and help,” Macey said. “So it was a pretty quick turn around just to be ready.”
Macey says they are south of the fires, and haven’t seen any action yet.
“The area we’re working, there’s no ongoing large fires,” Macey said. “But obviously in the region, there definitely was some recent good fire activity.”
Macey added that the conditions are so dry, they have to be ready for anything.
“Make sure we have a good plan of action, good communication, and we can respond quickly and safely if any new fires do start in the area,” Macey said.
The crew has been working with local fire crews who have seen the devastation first hand to learn about the situation.
“Weather, current and predicted, and just kind of getting familiarized with the area, doing some recon,” Macey said.
Macey said he could feel the emotions from residents as soon as he got there.
“We have had some interactions with local folks here in the area and they definitely do have concern about the fires occurring in the region,” Macey said.
The crew does not have a clear timeline on when they will be headed back. It was estimated they would be needed for two weeks and timing will depend on the fires, but they will be out there as long as it takes.
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