Fire crews expected to return by Wednesday

As Orange County firefighters begin to get a handle on the Freeway Complex fire burning through the Yorba Linda area, Newport-Mesa firefighters dispatched to help battle the flames will slowly return home in the coming days, officials said Monday.

Dozens of Newport-Mesa firefighters battled the blazes Saturday as part of strike teams, which generally consist of four or five engines or trucks and more than 20 firefighters assigned a specific mission. Orange County firefighters usually serve to protect homes in the path of the fire.

One of Costa Mesa’s four fire engines sent to the blaze returned Monday, with the other three expected to be released by Wednesday, officials said. The department also sent two battalion chiefs out to the fire to oversee county strike teams. Newport Beach’s six dispatched engines should also return in the coming days, officials said. Like Costa Mesa, Newport Beach had sent engines to the blaze in Los Angeles County last week before having them diverted to the Freeway Complex fire Saturday. All of them should be released to return home during the week.

— Joseph Serna