SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KGTV) -- Dozens of San Diego firefighters are traveling to Florida to prepare search and rescue efforts after Hurricane Irma makes landfall.
Fifty-seven firefighters left on flights Saturday morning out of Lindbergh Field to Elgin Air Force Base in Florida. When Irma passes, the crews will go out and search for anyone who needs rescuing.
Many of the firefighters heading to Irma are working with little to no rest. Some of them just got back from rescue efforts in Texas after Hurricane Harvey, others were helping in Oregon with wildfires.
Friday morning a team of firefighters left San Diego driving with the necessary equipment to do the job. The teams will meet up at the base.
The firefighters are part of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue teams, one of 28 in the country. The team includes engineers and even some local physicians.
Once they arrive in Florida, they'll be deployed to different parts of the state. They'll stay on the west coast until their rescue efforts are no longer needed.
