James Cauthen, a 54-year-old fire chief with Coweta County Fire in Georgia, was shot and killed while helping drivers who hit a deer in Alabama.

Bernalillo, San Juan and Los Alamos Counties, as well as the cities of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, will be deployed to Southern California on Thursday morning

Firefighters in New Mexico packed up their gear Thursday morning and are headed out west, to help with the wildfires devastating California. Some firefighters have experience fighting fires in California.

As California continues to fight the wildfire fueled by high winds, a New Mexico team is there to help. “It’s an honor to be able to be a part of it and to show that we’re here,” said Nathan Miller, Wildland Superintendent for the City of Santa Fe and Strike Team leader.

"These fires are becoming more common. What they were to call them is mega-fires," Nathan Miller said. He is leading the New Mexico Strike Team battling the Los Angeles fires. Although the fires have been unpredictable, he says his team continues to stand ready.

New Mexico got the request for assistance from California Tuesday morning and crews are getting ready to go help fight raging wildfires. California is making a big request of other states, looking for 40 firefighting crews from across the country to join the effort.

A group of 25 New Mexico firefighters left Thursday morning for California to help battle a series of major fires in the Los Angeles area.

Yet in L.A., prisoners themselves are bringing hope to the community. The state of California has for more than a century operated a volunteer Conservation (Fire) Camp Program, which allows eligible incarcerated persons to support local, state and federal agencies in responding to a variety of emergencies, including fires.

As more firefighters arrived to battle the blazes in Southern California — including a strike team from New Mexico — rumors have spread about some firefighters being turned away.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- The state of New Mexico announced it is sending five fire engines and 25 New Mexico firefighters to assist in fighting the California wildfires.

A humanitarian team from Mexico, deployed to fight the fires burning in Southern California, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday afternoon.

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – As California continues to fight the wildfire fueled by high winds, a New Mexico team is there to help. “It’s an honor to be able to be a part of it and to show that we ...