FORT PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- Three members of the Fort Pierre Volunteer Fire Department are back home after spending two weeks helping fight wildfires in Washington state.

Chief Justin Jones, assistant chief Tye Odden (odd-en) and firefighter Trey Stroup (stroop) spent most of their time at the Green Ridge Fire, which Odden says is in the north central part of that state.

Personnel at the fire locations is constantly changing as teams rotate in and out according to their assignments. As new people came in, Odden says everyone was talking about the Dixie Fire in northern California.

With wildfires burning in about a dozen states, Odden says finding available help is challenging.

To show the size difference between the two fires, this morning’s (Aug. 13, 2021) incident information says there are 482 personnel at the Green Ridge Fire and 6168 personnel at the Dixie Fire. The size of the Green Ridge Fire is estimated at 26,648 acres and is considered 15% contained, while the Dixie Fire is estimated at 515,756 acres and 31% contained.

The Dixie Fire is currently the largest wildfire burning in California, having destroyed more than 500 homes and most of historic downtown Greenville. The cause of that fire is under investigation. The Green Ridge Fire was caused by lightning.