Eleven firefighters from Lathrop and Manteca are helping battle the San Luis Obispo Chimney Fire and the San Bernardino blaze in the Southland.
Manteca Fire Department sent a crew of four Wednesday night headed by Captain Rob Grycel with the Office of Emergency Services (OES) green engine that is housed in Manteca.  Two OES engines were sent to the Chimney Fire in San Luis Obispo with seven firefighters on board from the Lathrop Manteca Fire Department.
Interim Manteca Fire Chief Kyle Shipherd said the Manteca city crew has made a 14-day commitment to stay on the San Bernardino fire line located in the mountains east of Los Angeles.
Lathrop-Manteca Battalion Chief Craig Jones said his men went willingly one more time.  The Office of Emergency Services places their engines in fire departments throughout the state. Fire departments have free use of the engines in exchange for sending strike teams during major wildfires throughout California. The fire crews are paid by the state when they are working on wildfire strike teams.