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Kern County deploys 170 firefighters, dozens of engines to Southern California fires; county says local protection intact
Summary
Kern County fire officials reported 170 county firefighters, 23 engines and several hand crews and dozers were deployed to assist with large fires in Los Angeles County, while supervisors were told local stations remain staffed and reimbursed for overtime through state emergency funds.
Kern County on Jan. 14 reported a major mutual‑aid deployment to recent Southern California wildfires, with 170 county firefighters, 23 frontline engines, four hand crews, four dozers and one urban search and rescue (USAR) task force sent to assist operations, the county fire chief told the Board of Supervisors.
Chief Aaron Duncan said the deployments represent almost one‑third of his department’s personnel and about half of the county’s frontline engines. "We didn't wait for orders. We said, what do you need? We'll send it. We'll figure out the paperwork later, and that's what we did," Duncan said, describing rapid calls with Southern California units to provide resources.
County leaders sought to reassure residents that Kern County remains protected. Duncan said a robust reserve and volunteer pool has filled local stations and that the department was "fully staffed" for local response. He added firefighters who had deployed were reporting high morale despite witnessing extensive destruction in the southland.
Supervisor David Couch asked whether the deployment would strain the county budget; the chief replied that overtime and other direct costs for the deployment are reimbursable through the state Office of Emergency Services or other emergency reimbursement mechanisms. "We are reimbursed for every dollar we spend, every hour of overtime that we expend," Duncan said.
The chief said the county’s contributions included management positions supporting logistics and that county departments beyond the fire department — including public health, the sheriff's office and animal services — were also assisting in Southern California.
The board and county leadership praised the firefighters’ work. Jesse Wodowski, newly elected president of Local 1301 of the Kern County firefighters union, attended the meeting and thanked supervisors for their support of the department. "Our guys are working hard, putting themselves out there, but also their families," Wodowski said.
Duncan urged the public to remain vigilant as forecasters predicted more high winds. He described the fires as producing "unprecedented" behavior and noted that the county's year‑round wildland program and recent investments in aircraft and equipment had strengthened local readiness.
