Navajo Scouts fire crew to assist with
wildfires in Los Angeles
Courtesy | Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President
The Navajo Scouts pose for a photo.
Marshall Baker
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK
The Navajo Scouts, a Type 2 IA team, has been deployed to southern California to assist in battling the wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles area. Multiple fires have ignited across LA County in quick succession, and record-breaking wind gusts are complicating firefighting efforts.
The Navajo Scouts is currently assigned to the Eaton Fire, which started Jan. 7 in Altadena, California.
The fire has grown to over 14,000 acres and is at 27% containment as of Monday morning. There have been 16 casualties in the Eaton Fire, according to a news release by the LA County Medical Examiner.
A Type 2 IA fire crew is responsible for the “initial attack,” capable of moderate suppression operations, and can be deployed to new fires as the first responders on the scene. The team was dispatched through the National Interagency Coordination Center, which will call out to other local or out-of-state agencies if their region does not have adequate resources. It operates under the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wildfire Management and is based out of Window Rock.
“As more people evacuate the Los Angeles area from the blazing wildfires, our Navajo Scouts, a Type 2 IA team are answering the call to help fight and protect the millions of people in LA County who are fleeing their homes,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren in a social media post on Jan. 9. “Our Navajo Scouts, a dedicated team of 23 members, including a courageous female wildland firefighter, are highly trained and available to combat fires like these for ten months out of the year. They represent various communities across the Navajo Nation, united in their mission to help those in need.”
The post garnered attention, with many showing support to the team as it was deployed.
“Let us continue to pray for our Navajo Scouts and for the safety of everyone affected by these wildfires in the Los Angeles area,” President Nygren said.
Fire crews are entering day 6 fighting the Eaton Fire, which is in conjunction with another fire currently still active – the Palisades Fire. Wind gusts up to 90 mph prevented aircraft from attending to the fires, which compounded the damage. The Palisades Fire has grown to over 23,000 acres and is still only at 14% containment as of Monday morning. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that more than 15,000 personnel have been deployed to attend to the devastating situation.
With winds expected to return this week, firefighters are at a critical stage. More than 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and it is likely to be the costliest fire ever in California. LA City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley described the fires as “one of the most challenging natural events in the history of this city,” she said Sunday in a press conference.
As ground crews continue to fight against the fires that have scorched the city, the BIA Division of Wildfire Management highly encourages those interested in this field of work to reach out. It is offering a new program called the Wildland Firefighter Apprenticeship Program, as well as other offerings for career opportunities. “As far as building your career, I highly recommend it to whoever is interested. It’s a well-worth career choice,” said Lessa Peter, a public affairs specialist at the BIA Wildland Fire Management.
According to Peter, it is not known how long the Navajo Scouts will be deployed in southern California, but many are rallying around the team as it faces one of the biggest disasters Los Angeles County has seen in some time.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow