LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas' two strike teams have returned home after battling the fierce fires in the Los Angeles area.
The two strike teams were initially deployed on the week of Jan. 9 and some were assigned to the Eaton Fire near Pasadena and the Pacific Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades.
"Never experienced anything like this before," said Capt. Travis Grove, Clark County Fire Department."I really loss for words for it. There was still gas lines on fire, gas leaks everywhere and we were just trying to fill in where we could."
In total, 45 personnel from the Las Vegas Valley fire departments, such as Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and Henderson Fire Department, were deployed to help out and support Southern California.
Grove was one of 45 volunteer firefighters who were sent out to help with the fires.
He said watching the destruction play out on TV—he knew he had to go out and help.
"Seeing pictures is different, but one thing that is hard to explain to people is that there was nothing left in these homes," said Grove. "I really wanted to go out there just to help."
Capt. Grove said it was devastating having to escorting countless families back to their homes that were reduced to ashes.
"One family, we had to go in and open up their safe and everything in the safe was even burned, so it was crushing," he said. " It pulled on your heartstrings."
The teams fought fires, protected adjacent unburned homes, extinguished ember-driven spot fires away and protected neighborhoods.
Currently, the Eaton Fire is at 95% containment, and the Pacific Palisades Fire is at 72% containment, according to CAL FIRE.
