Local members of National Guard return home after battling wildfires in California

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ROCHESTER, NY (WHAM) - Sgt. Timothy Strong is a Rush-Henrietta native. But for nearly a month, he's called California home.

“People are hurting right now" he says. "Just being able to help out and give them a hand.”

He's one of seven local National Guard members sent there. At first, it was just for training, but as the wildfires spread through the state, they were called into action.

“It’s a terrible tragedy, and I hate that so many people were displaced," says Officer Andrew Silver. He is a California native, but now lives in Greece with his family. He says his unit used an aircraft to help battle back against the flames - sending it up over the fire and using it to collect data and pinpoint hot spots.

“It’s very fulfilling," Silver says. "I joined to help my community, to help my country. Not just fighting wars, but here in the states.”

“Anyway possible to help anybody, really," says Specialist Alexis Carson. She is one of the newest members of the unit. She's a Wayne County native, and graduated high school in 2017. Helping people has always been her goal, and after seeing the devastation on the west coast first-hand, she was even more determined.

“I feel bad that their homes are destroyed," she says.

Now, after successfully providing aid, this group is happy to be back,

“It made me more thankful to be home with my family and to come back home in time for that was very good," said Silver.

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