Local strike team returns home after fighting two major California wildfires

After weeks of tireless work on the front lines of two major California wildfires, Strike Team 6827F is finally on its way home. The team spent a combined 13 days battling blazes across the state, a testament to their dedication to serving communities impacted by the destructive fire season, the Imperial County Association of Firefighters said.

The team’s deployment began with a four-day assignment at the TCU September Lightning Complex, a fire that ignited in early September in Tuolumne, Calaveras, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties. Sparked by a series of lightning strikes, the complex scorched nearly 14,000 acres, prompting evacuation orders and threatening historic towns. The strike team was part of the immense effort to establish containment lines and protect threatened structures