WILLISTON, ND ( KXNET ) — Williston Fire Department’s Engine 10, with a crew of three firefighters, is on its way to California to help in battling wildfires in that state.

The team left at 7:30 a.m., Friday morning.

California sent a nationwide request earlier this week for 50 fire engines to assist in fighting numerous stubborn wildfires raging in the state.

The Williston crew is heading for San Bernardino County in southern California to fight what is known as the “Line Fire,” a blaze that started September 5 and has grown to 37,589 acres. It is threatening over 65,000 structures, with evacuation orders being issued in several communities. The fire is currently reported as being 21 percent contained.

The Williston crew is expected to be gone for the next two weeks and perhaps longer, as they could be re-assigned to other hotspots in the state as needed.

“We are beyond proud of our firefighters,” said Williston Fire Chief Matt Clark. “Without hesitation, they are answering the call. We are thankful for the partnership that we have built with the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services to represent our state and provide this support to California. We wish them safe travels and look forward to their return.”

North Dakota is a member of the nationwide Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a system designed to share emergency resources between states in a rapid manner.

“Mutual aid systems are extremely important to public safety; emergencies are unpredictable, and that makes it extremely difficult to have all the resources needed at any given time,” said Williston Assistant Fire Chief Corey Johnson. “Our crews are highly trained professionals who can provide help, but this is also a valuable learning experience that is impossible to replicate. Their experiences will be returned to our community and state to make us better prepared for incidents that could occur here.”

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