Morongo Valley firefighters, who have been deployed to two fires this month, were expected to return home Friday. Captain Brennain Gorter and Firefighters Joel Romero and Gilbert Vasquez were sent to the Lake fire August 12, where they worked 24-hour shifts on the line. After working for 11 days there, their strike team was transferred to the SCU Lightning Complex fire in northern California Sunday, where they were also working 24-hour shifts.
Now another County fire battalion chief will be joining the fight against fires in northern California. Battalion Chief Donnie Viloria, who is normally stationed at the administrative office in Yucca Valley, will be swapped out with another strike team that is being sent home from the Dolan fire near Monterey. It’s not known at this time how long he will be gone.
