13 state forestry employees helping fight fires in 4 states

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – The South Carolina Forestry Commission has sent 13 employees to help fight wildfires in four states.

The commission announced Monday it is sending eight people to Texas, three to Idaho and one each to California and Washington state. Their varying roles include wildland firefighter, heavy equipment boss and public spokesman.

The 13 left as six of their colleagues returned from fighting fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Redding, California. The six spent two weeks there.

Last month, a Forest Commission employee spent a week helping out with a fire in Tok, Alaska.

The employees are working under a cooperative agreement the state agency has with three federal firefighting agencies: the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.