Tribal fire departments join fight against LA wildfires NBC 7 San Diego [Video]

As wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles, support, resources and additional firefighters from all over have poured into the city. That includes from some likely lesser-known fire departments: those on tribal reservations across California.

“It’s probably the most important thing we do,” said Pechanga Fire Department Chief Jason Keeling. “No community can respond and mitigate emergencies on their own.”

Keeling said the Pechanga Fire Department, on the Pechanga Reservation in Riverside County, is a member of the state of California’s mutual aid system. As such, ahead of the Santa Ana wind event last week, their 30-member team was already in position to respond to any fires in the region.

“For many, many years, we have responded to off-reservation incidents to support other communities in need when they call for help,” Keeling said.

So when the call from Los Angeles came in on Jan. 7, the Pechanga Fire Department sent …