Hoffman Estates Firefighters Stranded After Cabo Hurricane

24 active and retired firefighters attending wedding stuck in resort town

A group of Hoffman Estates firefighters attending a wedding in Cabo San Lucas are stuck in the Mexican resort town after Hurricane Odile hit the area earlier this week.

The firefighters say they're afraid for their safety and resources are scarce at their hotel.

"We are in dire straights. There is no power to the building, food is diminishing, our water supplies are diminishing," Lt. Rich Wellhausen said.

Wellhausen said 24 active and retired firefighters are in the area, including some of the department's command staff, a Chicago battalion chief and all of their spouses waiting to get airlifted out.

"We've got looters coming into our facility here and we fear the night now," Wellhausen said.

Hoffman Estates Fire Chief Jeff Jorian, who didn't make the four-day trip, says all shifts have been covered for fire and medical emergencies.

He said Gov. Pat Quinn's office and Sen. Mark Kirk and Sen. Dick Durbin have all been contacted to help find solutions to the problem.

"Call up the military. Send them to help the Mexican people. and while they're there, pull them out," said John Bott, the uncle of one of the stranded firefighters.

The Category 3 hurricane made landfall late Sunday night as the strongest storm on record to hit Mexico's southern Baja California peninsula. Wind speeds of 125 mph were recorded.
 

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