Chelan Firefighters continue to fight California wildfires

CHELAN – Four Chelan firefighters are on the front lines in Southern California, helping to protect communities from the devastation caused by multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

Captain Taylor Rains and firefighters Brandon Fogelson, Stephanie Preheim, and Duke Odenrider have been working alongside crews from across the western United States to contain the Palisades Fire, which has burned nearly 24,000 acres.

Chelan Fire Chief Brandon Asher said the team has been busy with structure protection and is part of a strike team assigned to respond to any new fires sparked by high winds in the region.

“They're in good spirits, they're happy to be down there, helping, doing what they can, and the fire conditions have improved recently, and they're just hoping that, with the predictive winds, that they don't get another large incident that threatens a bunch of homes,” Asher said. “But if they do, they've got strike teams there, and they're ready to just help in any way they can.”

Asher said the group has been assigned to the Palisades fire, but the first night they worked in the Mandeville Canyon area. 

“The first night is when they had the most action,” Asher said. “They saw planes that night, they did some structure protection, and that was in the Mandeville Canyon area.” 

“Then the second day, they were on the north end of the fire there to do structure protection,” he said. “And they're also part of an initial attack strike team for any new fires that start with the wind.”

The team deployed to California on Jan. 8, and the deployment is expected to last 18 days, including two days of travel each way. However, the schedule could change depending on fire activity and the need for resources.

“If another fire started and there weren't deep resources down there, we may work out a crew swap where we would either fly or drive down a replacement crew, and they would come back,” Asher said.

Since early January 2025, Southern California has been battling a series of devastating wildfires, particularly in the Los Angeles area. The largest, the Palisades Fire, has scorched nearly 24,000 acres, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents. 

Other significant blazes include the Eaton Fire in Altadena, the Kenneth Fire in West Hills, the Hurst Fire north of San Fernando, and the Lidia Fire in Acton. Collectively, these fires have destroyed thousands of structures and resulted in at least 25 fatalities.

The fires have been exacerbated by strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, with vegetation parched due to warm, arid weather, providing ample fuel for the flames. 

Chelan firefighters went to California to protect lives and property, highlighting the importance of mutual aid during large-scale emergencies. Asher emphasized that no single agency can handle such large-scale events alone, and support from other states helps manage resources, relieve exhausted crews, and address the overwhelming demand. Similar mutual aid systems are in place in Washington for large wildfire events.

Quinn Propst: 509-751-3590 or quinn@ward.media.