Six Kirkland firefighters have recently been deployed to assist in fighting wildfires in Oregon and California. On July 21, Captain Ken Henderson and Firefighter Shawn McDougall were sent to fight the Natchez Fire south of Cave Junction, Oregon and were then reassigned to the Klondike Fire that is moving toward the Grants Pass area.
On Aug. 1, a crew of four firefighters, Captain Ivan Huld, Firefighters Kent Moffitt, Ryan Riedl and Mario Magnotti left for the Mendocino Complex Fire in northern California. This is the first time in eight years that Kirkland firefighters have been deployed out of state to fight wildfires.
“Fire departments across the country share services when resources are stretched, and we are glad that the City of Kirkland can help our neighbors to the south,” Chief Joe Sanford said in a press release.