More Oregon firefighters headed to LA wildfires

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Another six strike teams of water tenders are on their way from Oregon to Southern California to help battle the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. That brings to 21 to number of strike teams sent from the state, the Oregon State Fire Marshal said.

The latest teams will leave Oregon no later than Sunday morning and will get their assignments once they arrive, officials said.

Through mutual aid, which has more than 300 local structural fire agencies across the state, Oregon has provided 21 strike teams, 75 fire engines, 30 water tenders and 370 firefighters to battle the still-spreading wildfires in California.

"We understand the gravity of the disaster taking place in California and are using the power of the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to give our neighbors additional tools to combat these wildfires and protect people and homes," Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple said in a statement. "Please rest assured our system is designed to ensure adequate coverage for our communities at home while at the same time providing support to those impacted by a disaster."

The Associated Press reports light breezes were fanning the flames, but the National Weather Service warned that strong Santa Ana winds — the nemesis of firefighters — could soon return. Those winds have been largely blamed for turning the wildfires into infernos that leveled entire neighborhoods around to city where there has been no significant rainfall in more than eight months.

The fire also was threatening to jump over Interstate 405 and into densely populated areas in the Hollywood Hills and San Fernando Valley, AP reports.

This is one of the largest out-of-state responses that the Oregon Fire Service has supported, with similar responses to Santa Rosa and Napa in 2017.