Mexico has sent 72 firefighters to Los Angeles on Saturday to help battle the devastating wildfires across the region.

Disaster relief workers from the National Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Defense in Mexico also arrived to assist local emergency workers.

“Emergencies have no borders – we are deeply grateful to our neighbors in Mexico for their unwavering support during one of our greatest times of need,” Newsom said. “Thank you to President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for lending the best of the best.”

So far, there are over 12,000 personnel, including firefighters, guard service members, highway patrol officers and transportation teams, working the frontlines in the firefighting operations. Around 1,680 National Guard members and over 1,000 servicemembers from the CalGuard Military Police Forces are also in the field.

Newsom welcomed the 72 Mexican firefighters as they landed in L.A. on Saturday. The group will be transported to a mobile station at Beaumont for a safety orientation before being dispatched by Monday, Newsom said.

The crew will likely be sent to battle the Palisades Fire which has been growing since Jan. 7. On Saturday night, the fire had expanded to 23,654 acres with 11% containment. The fire has moved towards homes in the Brentwood area.

The Eaton Fire near Pasadena, which also ignited on Jan. 7, has grown to 14,117 acres with 15% containment.

Earlier in the week, Newsom declared a state of emergency over the ongoing fires. Newsom’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support ongoing response efforts was approved by was approved by President Joe Biden on Jan. 8.

Nine states are currently providing mutual aid with Canadian firefighters scheduled to arrive on Jan. 13. More than 1,660 pieces of firefighting apparatus, including 1,150 engines, 60 aircraft, dozers and 100 water tenders are attacking the fires from the skies.

“We’re very grateful for this support,” Newsom said. “We’re very grateful to the foreign minister for reaching out. It’s what it’s all about – mutual aid. We’re neighbors, we’re partners in this fight and this means a great deal to us here in the United States. I want to thank the Mexican government.”

Residents who have been affected by the wildfires can apply for disaster assistance in several ways:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• By calling 800-621-3362
• By using the FEMA smartphone application
• Assistance is available in over 40 languages
• If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

More information can be found at CA.gov/LAfires.