A San Joaquin County strike team that includes firefighters from the Manteca Fire Department and Lathrop-Manteca Fire Department has been dispatched to the North State to combat a fire that is threatening multiple rural mountain communities. The Eiler Fire – which was burned more than 25,000 acres around the Shasta County enclave of Burney and is zero percent contained – and the Bald Fire, which has burned more 40,000 acres near Fall River Mills, are the focus for crews that includes not only firefighters from each of the departments, but also Manteca Fire Chief Kirk Waters and Lathrop-Manteca Fire Chief Gene Neely. According to Manteca Fire Battalion Chief David Marques, the strike team – which includes firefighters from throughout San Joaquin County – was out preserving structures on Monday around the Eiler fire, which quadrupled in size over the weekend and has already claimed eight homes, 20 outbuildings and a restaurant.