AKRON, Ohio — A crew of 13 people from the Akron Fire Department, Green Fire Department and Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department are heading to Louisiana to help the state battle wildfires. 

What You Need To Know

  • The crew of 13 will be in Leesville, La., according to the Akron Fire Department

  • They departed early Wednesday morning and should arrive in Leesville by 11 p.m. Wednesday

  • The wildfires in Louisiana are currently the state's largest in its history

They will be stationed in Leesville, La., according to the Akron Fire Department. The department said they’ll be there for about 14 days.

“I’m incredibly proud of these firefighters and officers who have volunteered to help their colleagues in Louisiana,” said Akron Fire Chief Joseph Natko in a press release. “The call to public service runs deep in each and every member of this crew and I wish them luck as they travel to replace crews in Leesville. We send our thoughts and prayers to the residents of Louisiana as they continue to feel the impact of these wildfires.”

They departed early Wednesday morning and should arrive in Leesville by 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The crew from Akron Fire includes District Chief Frank Poletta, Lt. Jamie Dixon and firefighters Joe Bryant, Matt Uhl and Justin Tony.

They’ll join Battalion Chief Jason Marzilli and fire medics Dave Montgomery, Matt White and Vincent Deluca from The Green Fire Department. Members from the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department include Lt. Konrad Lenk and firefighters Richard Patterson, Addison Marable and Trenton Donald.

The wildfires in Louisiana are currently the state’s largest in its history. It’s been an unprecedented wildfire season. Normally this time of year, the state sees flooding due to hurricane conditions. But the rapid spread has been made worse by recent extreme heat and pine plantation forests, blown down by recent hurricanes, fueling the fires. 

The largest fire currently is the Tiger Island Fire, which was first reported on Aug. 22. It has grown to more than 33,000 acres, and there are still more than 400 active fires across the state. 

“It’s no surprise to me that this crew of extraordinary public servants have once again answered the call to serve,” said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan in a press release. “The bravery it takes to run toward danger cannot be overstated, and we wish all of our crews a safe return where I know their family and friends will be eagerly anticipating their arrival. I thank these 13 firefighters and officers for their willingness to help.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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