MARION, Ill (WSIL) -- Illinois is sending three engine strike teams to help with Ida relief efforts, and one of those strike teams is made up of fire fighters from all across southern Illinois.
The strike team took off from Marion Tuesday afternoon to help provide some relief to fire fighters in the south.
For 14 days, 68 total firefighters from 33 departments will be deployed, running emergency missions while Louisiana firefighters take a break.
Southern Illinois firefighters call the mission a once in a lifetime opportunity.
"All of us joined to help our community and to serve, if you will. So having the opportunity to go out of state and to help somebody else that's in need, to help brothers and sister in the fire service, to give them a break, to be with their family, to have some downtime, it means a lot," said Herrin Fire Chief, Shawn Priddy.
The mission is authorized by both the Illinois governor, as well as the Louisiana governor.
The Southern Illinois strike team is made up of five engines with four people each, and will be meeting up with the other teams in a caravan as they travel to Louisiana.
