Answering the call for mutual aid, Redding Fire Department has sent help to Southern California. An unprecedented firestorm struck Monday afternoon from a combination of Santa Ana Winds and tinder dry vegetation that hasn’t gotten any significant rain since the springtime. Redding Fire Chief Gerry Gray says the California fire mutual aid system is the best in the world at moving interagency resources quickly and efficiently to areas of need. He points out that Redding and surrounding communities have often benefited from the same kind of assistance. Tuesday morning the department sent three fire engines and 13 firefighters to answer the call for help. Such assignments are usually for 14 days, but an additional 7 day extension is pretty common.