Local firefighters revisit NorCal to fight blazes

For the second time in three weeks, local firefighters have been summoned to Northern California to help battle wildfires.

State fire authorities requested Orange County assistance Wednesday just before noon, officials said.

Newport Beach is sending out a battalion chief and an assistant, other departments will supply firefighters and trucks. Costa Mesa is part of that contingent, sending out a truck and the men to staff it.

The firefighters will revisit Butte County to battle the BTU Lightning Complex fire — several small blazes ignited by dry lightning strikes.

Fire officials are concerned the dozens of small fires could merge into larger blazes if the weather worsens, said Newport Beach Deputy Fire Chief Dave Mais. Weather officials are predicting more lightning strikes in the next couple of days, Mais said.

— Joseph Serna