OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — Agencies in Northwest Florida are stepping up to answer the call for help in Texas, where the Ross Fire has scorched at least 80,000 acres.
The fire started Monday in Palo Pinto County. It’s currently 26 percent contained.
“We’re all neighbors in some sort of way, and this is how we can help,” said Chief Thearon Shipman with the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department.
Fire Chief Shipman says his department sent over his assistant for the strike team leader. His exact location hasn’t been determined, but Shipman says a typical deployment lasts 14 days.
“They have to drive, I think the total time in a car is 12 hours. Fire trucks are a lot slower,” he said. “They’ll have a staging area. They’ll get their assignments. And then obviously the team leader communicate with the crews and they’ll go to work.”
His firefighter joins several others in Northwest Florida heading west to Texas.
Niceville, North Bay, Okaloosa Island, Destin, Crestview and Ocean City-Wright are all sending over manpower. State agencies are also tapping in.
Locally, three staff members with the Florida Forest Service are responding throughout the state.
“Their employees are stretched to the max,” said Justin Rowell with the Florida Forest Service. “They’re working 14 days straight, taking a day off basically, and coming back to work another 14 days.”
“Texas relies on a lot of out of state resources to operate their equipment, as far as their dozers and and things like that,” he added.
Rowell is working in northeast Texas. In the last nine days of his deployment, he’s been working daily, smaller-scale fires.
“It’s just extremely hot. You know, temperatures are averaging 100 degrees every day. Humidities are are low 30s,” Rowell said. “The wind’s not too bad, which is helping a little bit.”
Chief Shipman says rain would be the biggest help.
“We hope they can get this thing under control and get back home safely,” he said.
Texas officials say they are grateful for the assistance, but more support for the firefighters is needed.
Palo Pinto Emergency Services is requesting medicine, snacks, and other materials for the crews out there on the ground. Click here to see how you can help.