Sheriff Bill Ayub ordered 27 deputies with equipment and police vehicles to deploy in support of the Caldor Fire on Wednesday. The latest information indicates that the Caldor Fire has reached 199,000 acres and is currently threatening 34,000 structures. More than 53,000 people have been evacuated as the fire continues with only 18% containment.
Other law enforcement agencies from the tri-counties region are also deploying peace officers. The assistance is being provided under existing mutual aid agreements between all counties in the state and coordinated by the California Office of Emergency Services.
Sheriff Ayub stated, “Our deputies are equipped and trained to handle dangerous situations. We have the unfortunate benefit of having extensive experience in handling large scale fires. Our staff, along with many of our neighboring peace officers, will now take that experience to protect and evacuate those facing the harsh realities of the Caldor Fire.”
The contingent of staff will deploy for 5-7 days, it is unknown at this time if additional resources will be needed; however, if they are, the Sheriff’s Office will answer the call for help. During the Thomas and Woolsey Fires, hundreds of peace officers from far away counties were deployed to protect the lives and property of Ventura County residents, Sheriff Ayub will ensure we return the kindness.
The sheriff’s office employs approximately 750 deputies, and the sheriff always ensures a strong contingent of staff is in the county and available to respond to local emergencies, including fires. This is why mutual aid coordinators spread the request among a large number of agencies, so that no single agency is left shorthanded.
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