Responding to the devastating wildfire in Maui, three canine teams from the Los Angeles County Fire Department have set out to aid the Maui Emergency Management Team in search and rescue efforts. Departing from LAX late Sunday morning, the teams expect a deployment tenure of about two weeks.
The L.A. County Fire Department firefighter paramedic Nicholas Bartel, who is part of this deployment, said, “We are going to go find the victims of the fire and bring closure to the families.”
Bartel is joined by Captain Celina Serrano and firefighter paramedic Edward Ruiz, along with their K9 partners Prentiss, Harper, and Six.
The response to the wildfire, currently the deadliest in the United States in over a century, continues as recovery efforts on Maui are ongoing. As of Sunday afternoon, the death toll from the wildfire was 93.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has declared the Maui wildfire to be the worst natural disaster in the state’s history. The governor stated that the short-term impact is heartbreaking, long-term mental healthcare services will be needed, and eventually, the community will rebuild together.
The fire has reportedly caused nearly $6 billion in damage and destroyed at least 2,200 buildings in West Maui. The need for assistance is pressing, with officials estimating as many as 4,500 people requiring shelter. The deployment of the canine teams from L.A. County Fire Department is part of the larger response to aid Maui during these challenging times.