Several members of the Alameda Fire Department (AFD) were deployed to different locations to help combat weather-related crises throughout the state of California.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, AFD deployed two members at the request of the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). AFD firefighter Jeffrey Weidler was deployed as part of the Oakland Urban Search and Rescue Task Force #4 team to Riverside County to offer aid for Hurricane Hillary.

Weidler and the task force’s Swift Water Rescue Team, led by the Oakland Fire Department, reported to the Morongo Fire Department. Weidler was a part of a team of 16 highly trained special operations personnel from various local agencies participating in the incident response deployment.

During their mission, the team searched 36 townhouses, conducted 25 rescues and evacuated 16 buildings, according to reports. Last year, Weidler and the Swift Water Rescue Team traveled to Alpine County, to provide aid in case of potential mudslides and debris flow after heavy rains in the area).

On the same day, AFD public Information Officer Kevin Tidwell was deployed as a public information officer to the Deep Fire, which is burning in the Shasta Trinity National Forest west of Trinity Lake.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, AFD deployed OES Engine 409 team to the Smith River Complex as part of CalOES Strike Team 2802A. According to reports, the Smith River Complex Fire is approximately 40,000 acres with zero percent containment, as of Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Strong northeast winds affected the fire area overnight, but an inversion settled in, dampening fire behavior on most of the complex. The Smith River Complex in the Six Rivers National Forest is located near the Oregon border.

AFD is a longtime partner of Cal OES and the California Mutual Aid System, which provides personnel and equipment for emergency incidents throughout California and our surrounding states. AFD remained fully staffed within the city to provide their usual emergency services.