What to Know
- The Santa Rosa Fire Department sent two engines and eight firefighters to battle the Carr Fire
- Marin County fire also sent crews, three of their firefighters suffered burn injuries but were treated and released.
- For North Bay residents, the flames scattered through Shasta County are a reminder of what they went through less than a year ago
As the Carr Fire continues to spread through Redding, Bay Area fire departments are on their way to help, feeling the worst kind of déjà vu as firefighters say the fire is eerily similar to the North Bay fires that ripped through neighborhoods less than a year ago.
"Some eerie similarities to what we saw here," said Paul Lowenthal from the Santa Rosa Fire Department, which sent two engines and eight firefighters to the Carr Fire Thursday. "It’s absolutely what we want to be doing, helping those who are facing what we faced last year."
Nearby Marin County fire also sent crews, three of their firefighters suffered burn injuries but were treated and released. All three injured while trying to keep the Carr Fire from doing what the Tubbs Fire did to Santa Rosa.
"The fire and wind picked up and laid the fire down almost like a blow torch in their direction where they were defending the house," said Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber.
For North Bay residents, the flames scattered through Shasta County are a reminder of what they went through less than a year ago.
"I just feel for them," said Santa Rosa resident Jackie Irish. "Pray if you’re a praying person and watch out for your neighbor."
As Irish checked on the progress on her home being rebuilt in Coffey Park, she learned of the massive Carr Fire in Shasta County that exploded Thursday night, with similarities to the blaze that sent her family running.
"I was able to get our pets in their carriers, my husband said there was a fire coming and the house burned down about a half an hour later," Irish said.
Santa Rosa firefighters are expected to be up in Redding for up to two weeks, as for Irish, she hopes to be in her new home by the beginning of October, before the one year anniversary.
