Three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department were injured in a crash early Sunday morning while driving to North Carolina to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
The three were injured on eastbound Highway 20 near the border of Texas and Louisiana at about 2:40 a.m. local time, said Asst. Fire Chief of Emergency Operations James Gaboury at a Sunday morning press conference.
“There was one battalion chief and two captains that were injured… all three of them are in various conditions ranging from moderate to critical,” said Gaboury.
He said that they were flown by air ambulance to a local hospital, adding that their names have not yet been released pending family notification.
“They are all longstanding members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, and have been members of the FEMA task force contingent for many, many years.”
He said that this is the first time members of the team have been in such a serious crash, describing it as “devastating.”
“We’re reaching out to all members of San Diego Fire-Rescue departments as well as the participating agencies to make sure that other members of the departments are taken care of as well.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria pledged “full and total support” to the three task force members as they recover from their injuries and said that his office would keep the public informed.
“As you’ve seen in the footage and the aftermath of that hurricane, this is a disastrous event necessary of a national response, and I’m proud that our firefighters and this task force can be a part of that national response,” Gloria said.
“Naturally, this crash complicates that matter, but it does not complicate or take away from the fact that these are courageous, brave, and public service-oriented individuals who are deserving of their city’s support.”
The team was on its way to Charlotte, North Carolina to offer support and resources to those affected by Hurricane Helene, which slammed into the East Coast over the weekend, leaving at least 60 people dead across five states so far and hundreds of roads closed.
San Diego Fire-Rescue is the host agency for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue California Task Force 8 team. The team is made up of personnel from several local agencies within San Diego County, and has more than 200 members.
Sunday, Sept. 29, 11:23 a.m.: This story has been updated with comment from Mayor Gloria.