The Central Region Strike Team deployed from Washington state last week has arrived in California and is working the Palisades Fire, members of the strike force from Lewis and Thurston counties confirmed.

Deployed by the Washington state Department of Natural Resources on Jan. 9, the Central Region Strike Team is made up of fire crews from Lewis County Fire District 5-Napavine, the West Thurston Regional Fire Authority, the McLane Black Lake Fire Department, the Central Mason Fire Department and the Hoquiam Fire Department.

The team reached Davis, California, on Friday, Jan. 10 and underwent vehicle inspections before being assigned to Task Force Six working the Palisades Fire on Saturday, Jan. 11, according to firefighter union Thurston County Professional Firefighters International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 3825.

The Palisades Fire is the largest of three wildfires, collectively referred to as the Los Angeles Fires, that broke out in Southern California on Jan. 7.

As of 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday, the Palisades Fire had burned 23,713 acres between Santa Monica, Calabasas and Malibu and was 19% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).

In total, there have been eight confirmed fatalities and three confirmed injuries caused by the Palisades Fire. CAL FIRE estimates that the fire has destroyed 2,191 structures and damaged 297 others.

About two dozen people have died in the fires so far.

CAL FIRE reports that a total of 5,104 personnel, 113 crews, 44 helicopters, 524 engines, 66 dozers and 59 water tenders have been assigned to the Palisades Fire.

The cause of the fires is under investigation.

District 5’s three-person crew, which consists of Captain Brad Bozarth and firefighters Asa Ingle and Connor Tardiff, has been assigned to structure protection in the Malibu area, Interim Chief Gregg Peterson confirmed Wednesday.

“Day two is in the books! Our members have wrapped up their efforts for the day and are getting some rest before heading back out tomorrow morning,” IAFF Local 383 said in a Facebook update on Tuesday afternoon, adding that the team had a lighthearted “exciting moment” that day when they had the opportunity to meet actor and director Sean Penn while they were working.

Penn founded the global humanitarian organization Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE) alongside Ann Lee in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, according to the organization’s website. CORE has been aiding in relief efforts in Southern California since the fires broke out on Jan. 7.

Washington state announced Jan. 9 that it was “currently pulling together resources that have been requested from California via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact,” which serves as “the nation’s all hazards mutual aid system,” according to previous Chronicle reporting.

As of Jan. 9, Washington state’s Emergency Management Division had sent nine task forces made up of 45 engines, 11 trucks and 146 personnel.

The state Department of Natural Resources sent an additional two strike teams, including the Central Region Strike Team, consisting of a total of 10 engines and approximately 35 personnel.

“IAFF Local 3825 sincerely thanks everyone for the continued support and encouragement — it truly makes a difference!” the union said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. 

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has issued a call for Washington residents, public employees and state retirees to help those impacted by the Los Angeles fires by donating through the Disaster Relief Center (DRC).

For more information on specific charities involved or to set up a payroll contribution, go to https://give.wa.gov/cfd/Disaster-Relief-Center.    

Non-state employees can use a secure link to make a donation via credit card at  https://give.wa.gov/events/?2025-la-county-wildfires.