MASSACHUSETTS - A crew of firefighters from Massachusetts is supporting efforts to battle wildfires in the western part of the country as demand for resources continues to soar. A team of 21 left for Idaho over the weekend.
They're the second crew the state has sent in a month and include DCR firefighters from Millville, Hubbardston, Groton and Worcester.
As of Tuesday, nearly 130 active wildfires are stretching across the west burning 2.3 million acres of land.
Mass DCR chief fire warden Dave Celino said this latest crew is battling an almost 2,000-acre fire near Boise and the biggest concern surrounds fatigue and resources.
"They are direct, right on that fireline on the flat fires," Celino said. "Active fire behaviors. Steep slopes. And remember, they are living essentially in camps, so they are going to spend about 14 days on that fire, sleeping on the ground, long days. 14 to 16 hour days on the fire lines. It's tough and physically demanding and also emotionally demanding days as you get out to 10, 12 days."
Celino said the top priority is firefighter safety. In total, a little less than 27,000 personnel and 1,400 engines are involved in knocking down these wildfires.