Several fire departments in North Texas have sent help to parts of the state cleaning up after Hurricane Beryl. The storm made landfall near Matagorda, Texas before dawn Monday.
DeSoto sent a fire engine and four firefighters to the coast as part of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System.
"In the event of a disaster of any sort, whether it be a hurricane, wildland fire, they will activate different departments who have the ability to deploy and assist our neighbors," DeSoto Fire Chief Bryan Southard said.
DeSoto also sent a firefighter trained as a paramedic to work on an ambulance bus provided by neighboring Cedar Hill. Duncanville also had personnel on the ambus. Arlington, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, and Midlothian also sent manpower as part of TIFMAS.
"The team we sent all have water rescue training," Southard said. "When we deploy for wildland fires, we send guys who have wildland training, so we all work together and train together."
Initially, the firefighters from DeSoto were sent to the coast. As Beryl moved inland, Southard says the need shifted to areas in East Texas, around Tyler, dealing with heavy rain and flooding.
"They are there to assist in any type of water rescues that are needed or to help backfill and supplement area fire departments that are going to be overrun with additional calls with the storms coming through," he said.
Southard said firefighters responding as part of TIFMAS can adjust quickly to whatever tasks are needed.
"As the fire departments in that jurisdiction are out doing water rescues, we can come in, help backfill, and run their regular emergency calls or vice versa," he said. "Emergencies don't stop just because of a storm coming through."
Southard said his crew is expecting a two week deployment, but that can change based on the need.
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