Mexico City, Mexico — Mexico has sent a team of forest firefighters to the U.S. to help battle California flames. The team of 74 specialized men and women left early Saturday. According to California Governor Gavin Newsom, the team will join others on the ground this weekend.
“Firefighters from Mexico are en route to the Easton Fire, joining more than 10,000 personnel already on the ground. California is deeply grateful for President Claudia Shein(baum’s) support as we work to suppress the Los Angeles wildfires. Our partnership and shared commitment to helping communities in need is greatly valued,” he posted.
Mexico’s Civil Protection also announced the departure of the forest firefighting team on instruction of President Sheinbaum.
“Following instructions from the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the head of the CNPC of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, Laura Velázquez Alzúa, together with authorities from the Secretariat of National Defense, the National Forestry Commission of SEMARNAT, and the SRE, are joining forces to support the fight against serious forest fires in southern California.
“The Mexican delegation will depart on a solidarity mission to protect lives and nature. Mexico is with the United States. Solidarity has no borders,” the Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil posted on their social media.
In a press release late Saturday, the government of Mexico, through the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) said “74 elements of specialized firefighting and civil protection technicians will collaborate in responding to the forest fire contingency in California.
“Through this operation, the Government of Mexico shows its solidarity within the framework of international cooperation, with the aim of supporting a neighboring country with which it maintains strong commercial and cultural ties.”
To date, at least 11 people have died from the fires. According to the LA County medical examiner’s office, five were from the Palisades fire and six from the Eaton fire. More than 12,000 structures have also burned since the wildfires started January 7, 2025.
