SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department announced Wednesday that it increased staffing as the county was hit with its second Santa Ana wind event of the week. A Red Flag Warning went into effect early Thursday and will last through at least Friday, perhaps Saturday according to the agency.
Santa Ana winds are expected to return to San Diego County on Thursday and Friday, raising the threat of wildfires in the region.
The National Weather Service reported that sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected, but gusts could reach 65 mph near mountain ridge tops. Daytime humidity could drop as low as 5% Thursday and high temperatures in inland areas will hover in the mid-to high-90s. Temperatures in the mountains will top out in the high 70s.
Beginning Wednesday morning SDFD said it has had pilots and crew on overtime for two firefighting helicopters which will be available 24 hours a day until the threat of fire diminishes.
SDFD spokesperson Monica Munoz reported that as of Wednesday night at 8 p.m. it has staffed a “mixed, type III strike team” consisting of five brush engines, a strike team leader and strike team leader trainee. The strike team is made up of three SDFD engines plus one from Chula Vista Fire Department and another from Poway Fire Department. Each brush fire engine has a crew of four firefighters. Both strike team leaders are from SDFD and the team is based out of SDFD station 28 in Kearny Mesa, according to the agency.
Another strike team was pre-positioned in a North County location and consists of four brush engines from other agencies in San Diego County and one brush engine from SDFD.
Starting Thursday morning at 7 a.m., a third strike team was staffed by SDFD firefighters, a strike team leader and strike team leader trainee. That strike team is made up of SDFD brush engines and its team will work for 36 consecutive hours unless the fire threat diminishes, the department reported adding that if the threat extends beyond 36 hours, it will extend the assignment. The crews on that strike team are housed at fire stations throughout the city.
Two SDFD water tenders are also being staffed for 36 hours. Each water tender carries a single firefighter. Those firefighters are housed at stations 28 and 40.
The agency indicated that it also has other staff who will be on call and available if a fire breaks out.
Part of the strikes teams' preparations include members packing about two weeks of supplies into small strike team bags.
The department said if winds died down Thursday night the strike team members may get some rest but if not they planned to stay configured and would be up all night.
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