BEYOND OUR CITY: WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ANSWER THE CALL ELSEWHERE

By Brittany Hart Scholten

Captain Christopher Duffy

Last January, the Long Beach Fire Department deployed two “strike teams” to assist with the Palisades and Eaton Fires. A strike team consists of five fire engines, each staffed with four firefighters, along with a strike team leader and additional support personnel. In total, Long Beach sent approximately 50 fire personnel to assist in battling the two major fires.

For Captain Duffy, responding beyond city limits is part of the job. “When we join the fire department, we take an oath to protect life, property, and the environment wherever we’re needed,” he said. That commitment has taken him across the state, as he has participated in 14 strike team deployments to some of California’s most destructive wildfires.

“We All Do The Same Job”

Large-scale fires rely on seamless teamwork among firefighters who may have never worked together before. Crews from different cities and departments quickly build trust, communicate clearly, and rely on shared training. “Everyone speaks the same language out there,” Duffy said. “You don’t have to explain much. You just get to work together.”

Strike teams meet before entering a major fire, and a leader briefs them on the specifics of the situation. For the Palisades Fire, Captain Duffy and his crew, along with other strike teams, arrived at sunrise to relieve exhausted firefighters covered in soot who had been working for over 24 hours.

As they entered the fire, firefighters often took on roles beyond simply fighting it. Crews assisted with evacuations, helped secure neighborhoods, and kept people out of dangerous areas. “We weren’t just fighting fire,” Captain Duffy said. “We were helping people get out safely and keeping others from entering unsafe areas.”

“When you’re there, smelling the smoke in the air and looking through the frame of someone’s home, the devastation is palpable,” Captain Christopher Duffy recalled of his time fighting the Palisades Fire.

Human Connections

In the midst of active fire lines, human connection became just as important as the physical work. Firefighters checked on residents and each other, shared what information they could, and offered reassurance during moments of uncertainty. “For a lot of people, this is the worst day of their life,” Captain Duffy said. “You can see it in their eyes, and sometimes the most important thing we can do is listen and be present with them while they process what’s happening.”

Strike team assignments demand long days with little rest, unpredictable conditions, and constant vigilance. Firefighters worked extended shifts in heavy smoke and extreme heat, often sleeping wherever they could before returning to the line. “There was lots of love from the community as local restaurants provided meals as we worked, residents allowed us to rest in their backyards when needed, and we were offered recovery options on our days off,” Captain Duffy warmly remembered.

After weeks on the front lines, returning home carries a different weight. Coming back to Long Beach meant more than leaving the smoke and devastation behind. It was reconnecting with a community that counts on its firefighters every day. In this place, neighbors, friends, and family awaited. “Coming home to Long Beach, to our families and the people we protect, is always a reminder of why we do this,” Captain Duffy said.​