KILLEEN, Texas ( FOX 44 ) — On January 11, the Killeen Fire Department sent three of its firefighters to Southern California to assist with the ongoing wildfires – a testament to the department’s readiness to answer calls for help far beyond their home state.
Firefighters Marcus Stillwell, Jason Wuest, and Christopher Poston were the first responders selected to travel to California, where they joined many first responders battling intense wildfires fueled by high winds.
While their training has prepared them for a range of emergencies, including wildfires, Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski highlighted the unique challenges posed by the high winds in the region – particularly the Santa Ana winds. These winds, often reaching sustained speeds of 60 to 80 miles per hour, can drive fires across vast landscapes, making containment efforts more difficult…