Texarkana Firefighters Return Home After Battling Devastating California Wildfires

Five Texarkana firefighters are finally back home in East Texas after spending days battling those raging wildfires in California. The crew—Danny Douglas, Terrence Lomax, Dakota Huddleson, Carson Rich, and Chuck Weartz—returned after an exhausting deployment, witnessing firsthand the incredible destruction that swept through the state.

Weartz, who played a key role in ensuring Texas firefighters were supported throughout the mission, said, “We had about 135 firefighters from Texas deployed to California. My job was to make sure all their needs were met.”

California has faced some of the worst wildfires in its history, with entire neighborhoods reduced totally to ashes. The Texarkana firefighters worked alongside crews from across the country, taking on intense conditions in an effort to protect what was left.

The experience was nothing short of life-changing for the crew. Terrence Lomax summed it up best telling KTLA: “I think everybody you talk to would say it’s humbling.”

Danny Douglas described the deployment as “an eye-opening experience to see the amount of destruction that happened to the community. It was also a very educational experience.”

For Carson Rich, who is still early in his firefighting career, the devastation was almost beyond belief. “I’m not too long in my career, but I’m sure it is going to be a long time before I see that many houses burned down—especially at one time.”

The team returned home after rain showers finally helped bring the fires under control. Though relieved to be back in the ArkLaTex area, these firefighters will never forget the sights, the lessons, or the people they fought to protect.

A huge thank you to these heroes for stepping up when the call came. A true Texan always answers the call!