Jeff Peter, the Assistant Fire Chief at the Contra Costa County Fire District, has been deployed to Maui to aid in the efforts against the ongoing wildfires there. The deployment is part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mission. Chief Peter, who left Oakland early on Friday, is said to bring decades of experience in FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team operations to the mission.
Chief Peter is part of FEMA’s Incident Support Teams and has responded to disasters across the nation. His range of expertise includes search and rescue operations, logistics, planning, and recovery.
The deployment demonstrates Contra Costa Fire’s commitment to providing critical assistance during crises. Con Fire is well-represented within FEMA’s Urban Search and Rescue Teams, including USAR Incident Support Teams. These specialized units undergo rigorous training and have extensive hands-on experience managing natural disasters nationwide.
Con Fire’s collaboration with FEMA reflects their dedication to enhancing emergency response capabilities and promoting safety on a broad scale.
The Maui wildfires have already claimed 55 lives, with about 1,000 individuals still unaccounted for. Given the severity of the situation, California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the deployment of additional search and rescue teams to the island.