After 17 days and more than 380 hours deployed, two Iowa Colony Fire Department firefighters are expected to return home this Saturday after assisting with the response to the Ross Fire.

During their deployment, the crew worked across four divisions of the fire, shuttling tens of thousands of gallons of water to support firefighting operations on what has become the largest summertime wildfire in Texas since detailed statewide records began in 2005.

The numbers illustrate the magnitude of this response. The Ross Fire has burned more than 90,000 acres—approximately 141 square miles. A total of 167 structures, including 18 occupied homes, were destroyed, and another 95 structures were damaged. Through the tremendous efforts of responders, 453 structures were saved and no fatalities have been reported.

At the height of the response, 490 personnel and 112 resources were assigned to the fire. Aircraft alone delivered more than 2.5 million gallons of water and 434,000 gallons of fire retardant.

We are incredibly proud of our Iowa Colony firefighters for answering the call and representing their department and our community during this extraordinary response. Their deployment is a powerful example of what the fire service does best—when help is needed, they go.

We look forward to welcoming them home safely this weekend. Thank you to these firefighters, their families, and every first responder who has worked tirelessly to protect the communities impacted by the Ross Fire.

Welcome home, and job well done!