As fierce flames burn across much of California, many of the brave men and women fighting the blazes are firefighters from South Florida.
Tim Abramczyk of the Florida Forest Service just returned from two weeks of battling the Ferguson Fire in Northern California, which burned nearly 100,000 acres and forced even Yosemite National Park to close for two weeks.
Two firefighters – Braden Varney from Cal Fire and fire Capt. Brian Hughes of Sequoia & Kings National Parks – died while fighting the flames. Hughes died after he was struck by a tree.
"This is very serious, we're not just out here hiking and dealing with the fire, you have to watch out for the trees falling on people," Abramczyk said. "And for some of the new people, it was eye-opening."
Abramczyk led a team of 20 through rugged terrain, with a 50-pound pack on his back. They would hike all day attacking the fire, and camp at night in conditions that would challenge any Floridian.
"People aren't used to camping," he said, "It's in the middle of the woods, it's all hiking, it's all mountains, there's a lot of dust and it's really dry."
Thom Coletti was also on the fire line out west working to make sure crews don't get hurt. He says federal resources run out quickly now that fire seasons are longer.
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"The Florida resources are the second largest firefighting agency as far as forestry goes in the nation next to California," Coletti said.
The need for firefighters out west is so great that crews from Florida could end up going back very soon. But this season's wildfires, which are some of the largest in California's history, do not scare veterans like Abramczyk.
"You just have to try and stay positive the best you can," Abramczyk said. "But it does get frustrating, you're working in one area and the fire keeps getting bigger and bigger, but it does pay off. I've seen it work."
