Between Saturday, Dec. 18, and Tuesday, Dec. 20, Cal Fire dispatched and responded to nearly 4,000 emergencies and calls for service statewide, including more than 450 traffic collisions, more than 100 flooding incidents and more than 20 water rescues.
In the hard-hit Southern California counties of Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego, Cal Fire said it responded to more than a dozen additional water rescues and more than 50 new flooding incidents on Wednesday morning alone.
As heavy rainfall continues in many parts of the state, Cal Fire engine companies, fire crews, and personnel continue to be on high alert for additional flooding calls and rescues, the agency reported.
Cal Fire's inmate fire crews often play a large role in flooding incidents since they are also trained in sandbagging and debris removal. Each crew consists of 15 to 17 inmates that are supervised by a cal Fire captain.
Cal Fire reported that it has 196 inmate fire crews across California.
Motorists are urged to use extreme caution when driving on flooded roadways and obey road closure barricades. These are in place for driver safety and the safety of emergency responders.
Prior to traveling, motorists are encouraged to check on current weather and road conditions.
For more information on flooding and winter weather safety visit the Cal Fire Web site at www.fire.ca.gov.
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