Three more Green Valley Fire District firefighters have left to help fight wildland fires out-of-state.
The firefighters departed Monday morning for Eureka, Calif., where they will be battling the Orleans Complex on the Six Rivers National Forest, according to GVFD Operations Chief Joey Kosiorowski.
Lightning started the fire on July 25 and, as of Monday morning, the fire had consumed 26,500 acres of timber, brush and short grass.
Three other GVFD firefighters are helping out with the lightning-caused Meyers Fire west of Butte, Montana which was nearing 61,000 acres Monday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Since its inception, the GVFD has been sending personnel to help out when other agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, need it.
The district is reimbursed by the different agencies and those funds are used for maintenance on vehicles and overtime costs covering shifts of those who are away.