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Texas firefighters, equipment heading to California to help battle wildfires

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Published  January 11, 2025 10:38am CST
Wildfires
FOX 7 Austin

Los Angeles wildfires continue to burn

Devastating wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles County. After getting a bit of a break, fire crews are preparing for another round of strong winds

The Brief

    • Texas firefighters and equipment have been deployed to California to help battle wildfires in the state.
    • More than 135 firefighters, 45 fire engines and other personnel and equipment will make the trip.
    • At least 11 people have been killed in multiple fires burning in the state.

AUSTIN - More than 100 Texas firefighters and equipment will head to California to help battle the deadly wildfires in the state.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy firefighters, emergency management resources, fire engines, equipment and more to California, following a request from CAL FIRE.

Texas firefighters, resources headed to California

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 9: A view of flames at the mountain as seen from Topanga Canyon near Pacific Palisades in Topanga, Los Angeles, California, United States on January 9, 2025. A fast-moving wildfire has forced 180,000 people to evacua

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What we know:

More than 135 firefighters and other personnel from the Texas Department of Emergency Management, the Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, and Texas Emergency Medical Task Force will make the trip.

More than 45 fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles, and equipment will also be brought to California.

What we don't know:

At this point, we do not know where the resources will be deployed.

What they're saying:

"Our hearts grieve with the entire Los Angeles community as they continue to respond to these destructive wildfires. Texans know all too well the devastation wildfires can cause to our communities, and our country is stronger when we come together in times of crisis," said Gov. Greg Abbott in a statement.

California Fires

Los Angeles wildfires: Latest updates & concerns

Firefighters are still battling multiple fires burning across the Los Angeles area in California and stronger winds would fuel more flames in the coming days. FOX's Connor Hansen has the latest.

The backstory:

The Los Angeles area is dealing with a fifth day of wildfires after a massive flare-up of the Palisades fire forced more evacuations Friday night. 

The Palisades and Eaton wildfires have killed at least 11 people and destroyed some 12,000 structures as of Friday. Evacuation orders have been lifted in some areas as firefighters make progress on the Kenneth, Hurst and Lidia fires. 

READ MORE: More evacuations ordered in California fires; 11 killed

Government officials haven't given a damage estimate yet, but an estimate from AccuWeather, a private firm that provides weather data, estimated the toll to be about $135 billion to $150 billion. 

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, FOX Digital and AccuWeather.

WildfiresTexasCaliforniaGreg Abbott