Huntington Beach fire crews get little rest in battling blazes

Several local agencies are working to alleviate the strain from wildfires 30 miles away that have left hundreds homeless.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department is finally seeing its staff and engines return after two days on the front lines.

“At the height, we had six engines and two chief officers up there,” Battalion Chief Bob Brown said.

One engine was dispatched to the fires Saturday morning. Its crew was given one hour-long catnap during more than 48 hours of work, then came back to Huntington Beach about 2:30 p.m. today, Brown said.

As of Monday afternoon, two units had been sent back to the firehouse to rest. They will return to base camp at 5 a.m. Tuesday to either be reassigned or demobilized, Brown said.

Currently, two chief officers and two engines are fighting the fires; one is in the Chino Hills area, and the other’s location is unknown, Brown said.

The Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center has opened its stalls to board several horses since the fires began.

“I believe we’ve had about 22 total,” Program Director Stephanie Olsen said. “A handful of them have already gone home.”

Working Wardrobes, a nonprofit that offers career clothing and career development services, has opened its Fountain Valley facility, 11614 Martens River Circle, to people affected by the wildfires.

Victims who make an appointment at (714) 210-2460 and provide their Red Cross number will be able to obtain as many clothes as they need at no cost.

“Working Wardrobes provides free clothing to wildfire victims so that they may save their financial resources for necessities such as food and water,” said Jerri Rosen, CEO and founder of Working Wardrobes.

Evacuees can register at 1-800-RED-CROSS.