Burbank, Glendale firefighters join Ventura County brush fire battle

Fire crews from Burbank and Glendale were called Thursday to help battle a raging 2,000-acre brush fire in Ventura County.

The Burbank Fire Department sent 13 fire personnel – including a battalion chief – as well as three engines to respond to the fire, said Burbank Fire Capt. Peter Hendrickson.

Two of the engines are protecting homes on Borchard Road and Via Las Brisas in Thousand Oaks, while the third is stationed at the command post, Hendrickson said.

“The state of California set this thing up where we respond and take care of each other,” Hendrickson said. “That’s because nobody can staff enough manpower to take care of a major emergency like this.”

Glendale Fire Department sent three engine companies, which included 12 firefighters and two battalion chiefs, said Brandy Villanueva, Glendale Fire Department spokeswoman.

She added that the the department could send more firefighters and engines.

“As of right now, we just wait for the request to come in,” Villanueva said. “We have not been asked for any additional resources.”

Los Angeles County Fire officials deployed three strike teams Thursday afternoon, which included about 15 engines and nearly 60 firefighters, said Los Angeles County Inspector Quvondo Johnson.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com, and Nicole Charky, nicole.charky@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @nicosharki.