KP Firefighters Return After Wildfire Relief in Los Angeles

Key Peninsula Firefighters Lt. Adam Morse and Paramedic Kevin Koehl returned home Jan. 25 after an intense 18-day deployment to help combat wildfires in Los Angeles. They were part of a multi-agency strike team sent to battle the flames as part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a nationwide mutual aid agreement that provides mutual aid between fire departments during major emergencies.

A Grueling Schedule and Unpredictable Conditions

Morse and Koehl worked 24-hour shifts with brief rest breaks in between. Each day began early, around 4:30 a.m., with a drive to Malibu to meet their team at fire camp. By 7 a.m., the crew was briefed, supplied, and ready to hit the fire lines.

Their main task was protecting high-density areas at risk of burning. This included clearing debris, securing homes, evacuating residents, and fighting fires when the flames threatened structures. The work continued until the following morning when they’d head back to camp to refuel, eat, and catch a few hours of sleep before starting it all over again.

The intense pace of the deployment took its toll and exhaustion would set in about 20 hours into the shift. “But once the sun would rise, spirits would rise with it,” Koehl said.

The toughest part was reading social media comments from back in the KP. Each day Morse and Koehl would give updates on the KPFD Facebook page. “The mental toll was the negativity questioning why our fire department was sent to help. I guess kindness, compassion and integrity are lost on some people,” Koehl said.

KPFD Assistant Fire Chief Chris Beswick confirmed Morse and Koehl’s deployment did not affect local service levels. The Longbranch station went unstaffed at least seven times from January to mid-February, but not because of the deployment.

"We were able to fill their positions while they were gone because all expenses will be covered through the emergency agreements in place with the state and federal emergency response agencies," Beswick said. The mutual aid agreement also reimburses travel expenses and the costs of any KPFD equipment used during the wildfire relief.

Firefighting Beyond Boundaries

The physical demands were intense, but the experience also opened Koehl’s eyes to the strength of the firefighting community. Koehl described their strike team as a tight-knit group, consisting of departments like Key Peninsula, Gig Harbor, South Kitsap, Eastside, Redmond and East Pierce. “The fire service is one large family with a common goal of helping others,” he said.

Although he’s worked other wildfires, this was Koehl’s first strike team experience. Throughout the deployment, Koehl and his team learned new techniques for mass structure protection and triage.

An Unforgettable Impact

The devastation they witnessed was something neither Koehl nor Morse will ever forget. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” Koehl said, adding that there were hundreds of empty cars bulldozed off the road so fire engines could get through. “I can’t fathom the fear people felt.”

Despite the emotional weight of the situation, Koehl said his passion for firefighting only grew stronger. “I love this job; it’s the only career I’ve ever known,” he said. “Events like this just reinforce why the fire service exists.”

After coming home in late January, he also finally had a chance to reflect on sharing the experience with Morse, a long-time friend, and the camaraderie they built with Marty Pattin and Jimmy Dane of Gig Harbor Fire. “(Morse and I have) been friends since we were fresh paramedics in Yakima back in 2013,” Koehl said. “There are few moments in life where you can go on an adventure like this and truly make a difference with your friend.”