Pasadena Fire Engines Join Brush Strike Team to Fight Out of Control, Massive Blue Cut Fire

The Pasadena Fire Department has dispatched two engines and a number of firefighters as part of brush strike team to fight the massive and out-of-control Blue Cut Fire near San Bernardino, now in its second day.

Pasadena Engines 33 and 36 joined Burbank Engine 13 and Glendale Engines 25 and 26, along with one Battalion Chief from the Burbank Fire Department and one from the Glendale Fire Department, to form Brush Strike Team 1203-A.

The five-engine Strike Team rolled out at 3:47 p.m. Tuesday afternoon and is now assigned to structure defense.

Battalion Chief Michael Wakoski of the San Bernardino County Fire Department, incident commander of the Blue Cut fire, told the Los Angeles Times that the fire broke out late Tuesday morning in rugged and steep terrain, making containment efforts almost impossible.

The LA Times said unrelenting heat, gusting winds and tinder-dry chaparral provided bountiful ammunition for the fast-moving fire that has forced more than 80,000 to evacuate.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County due to the Blue Cut fire.A statement from the Governor’s Office said a Federal Fire Management Assistance Grant has been requested and approved for the fire.

It is not known how long the Pasadena engines will be at the Blue Cut Fire, or if more assistance from the Pasadena Fire Department will be sought.