Members of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Injured in Crash En Route to Assist Hurricane Victims

Three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department were injured in a crash early Sunday morning while driving to North Carolina to help victims of Hurricane Helene.

The three were injured on eastbound Highway 20 near the border of Texas and Louisiana at about 2:40 a.m. local time, said Asst. Fire Chief of Emergency Operations James Gaboury at a Sunday morning press conference .

"There was one battalion chief and two captains that were injured... all three of them are in various conditions ranging from moderate to critical," said Gaboury.

He said that they were flown by air ambulance to a local hospital, adding that their names have not yet been released pending family notification.

"They are all longstanding members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and have been members of the FEMA task force contingent for many many years."

He said that this is the first time members of the team have been in such a serious crash, describing it as "devastating."

"We're reaching out to all members of San Diego Fire-Rescue departments as well as the participating agencies to make sure that other members of the departments are taken care of as well."