Three members of the Baltimore County Fire Department left this week to help in rescue and recovery efforts as Hurricane Irma, a massive Category 5 storm, heads for the state of Florida, officials announced Thursday.
Fire Lts. David Gouak and Brandon Watkins, along with Apparatus Driver Operator Shawn Drees were deployed to Alabama as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pennsylvania Task Force No.1. They will join Fire Lt. Byron Welker in Alabama, officials said.
Returning to Maryland are three other Baltimore County Fire personnel who served in Texas to assist victims of Hurricane Harvey, which left thousands of residents homeless in Houston and portions of Louisiana.
“These are skilled professionals who have shown tremendous caring and heart,” said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. “We are proud of them and happy to see them return safely.”
–Joseph Hockey