00:00Firefighters from all over the United States are currently in Los Angeles fighting deadly wildfires.
00:06Backup from Canada and Mexico arrived this week as well.
00:09VOA's Veronica Villafane has the full report.
00:16This brigade of firefighters from Mexico is gearing up for another challenging day battling the wildfires
00:22that have devastated the Los Angeles region.
00:25Carefully inspecting their equipment, shovels, rakes, chainsaws and essential food and water supplies,
00:32they prepare to spend up to 12 hours working in the rugged and unforgiving mountain terrain.
00:39This is part of our job to support California and we do it with pride.
00:47Relative humidity 10 to 16 percent.
00:50During a quick morning briefing, the Mexican team leader translates the weather conditions and instructions from a California brigade chief.
01:03Once they head out into the mountains, they rely solely on each other,
01:07working as a team to help contain the flames.
01:11This is something we have to do. It's our duty.
01:15Their commitment has not gone unnoticed by local fire crews.
01:19Everybody seems to be in shape, fit, ready to go.
01:23I think it's a good opportunity for me to learn as well as for them to learn and help out at the same time.
01:30The brigade of 72 firefighters and emergency personnel arrived on Saturday, January 11th
01:36from Mexico's National Forestry Commission and Ministry of Defense.
01:40California Governor Newsom was on hand to welcome the team.
01:44This is what relationships are all about.
01:47Friends in need, being there for one another.
01:50We want to be there for the people of Mexico in times of need and disasters and we're incredibly
01:54humbled and grateful that the president was willing to send the crew you see behind me.
02:00Juan Tapia is brigade chief.
02:04This is part of our job and we also have an agreement with the United States.
02:08We are glad to be doing this.
02:10The day after they landed in California, Mexican firefighters received a detailed
02:15briefing on managing the unique challenges posed by wildfires in the Los Angeles region.
02:23The vegetation is a little different.
02:25It's similar, but the scale here is bigger.
02:28It's more aggressive.
02:34As the team of Mexican firefighters heads into the mountains to combat the wildfires,
02:38they have been welcomed by local fire crews who have been enduring exhausting extended shifts.
02:44It's very appreciated, yet we couldn't be as successful as we are without everybody involved.
02:50For Fernando Mejia in Los Angeles, Veronica Villafañe, VOA News.
