It's one thing to watch the California wildfires on television, terrorizing both ends of the vast state. But it's a whole other thing to witness the devastation firsthand.
"Every day, a new friend I'm finding out has lost their home. And it's not just a little bit—they lost everything," Piper Riley told WFAA over Skype Monday. Riley is an Irving native who now lives in Southern California. WFAA asked her what was the biggest challenge facing firefighters.
"There’s just not enough of them," she said. "There’s not enough resources."
That's exactly why dozens of firefighters from North Texas are on their way to California.
"It's terrifying to see that kind of stuff come at your home, and it's just humbling for us that we’re going to be able to send some resources out there," said Mike Drivdahl of the Fort Worth Fire Department.
Fort Worth sent five firefighters Monday, not to mention Frisco, Prosper, Little Elm and others. They're preparing themselves for a tough two-week firefight.
"With the rugged terrain and high fuels in California, we wanted to make sure we sent experts out there," Drivdahl said.
Dallas Fire Rescue sent 17 firefighters, as well as trucks and equipment.
News that help is on the way quickly made its way to California. "I saw that, yeah," Riley said. "I was like, good for Texas! That’s how we do it, right?"
While Riley is safe, her old neighborhood in Topanga is evacuated. "I think the hardest part is not being able to do anything right now and watching all the people around you lose everything," she said.
With any hope, the Texas firefighters can help save homes and save lives.