Texas Deploys Resources To Help Fight California Wildfires

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced that firefighters and support personnel from across Texas have been deployed to help combat the devastating wildfires currently raging in California.

To that end, approximately 190 firefighters, 50 fire trucks and 10 command vehicles from 56 fire departments in Texas were scheduled to be deployed to California on Friday, Abbott said in a prepared statement. These resources are in addition to the 44 firefighters, 10 fire trucks and two command vehicles previously deployed in late August, the governor noted.

This deployment, Abbott noted, is made possible through the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, where the state of Texas is able to mobilize resources from fire departments across the state.

Related story: 12 Dead; 3.1M Acres Burned; 3,900 Structures Lost: CA Fires Map

"Texas is ready to answer the call for help when disaster strikes — whether it's here in the Lone Star State or across the country," Abbott said. "I thank the brave men and women serving in our fire departments across Texas for stepping up to help Californians in need as these fires continue to burn.

As of Thursday, the state's lead firefighting agency reported 3.1 million acres have now burned in this "record-breaking" year, Patch reported. The so-called August Complex, which began Aug. 17 during a lightning storm, is now officially the largest fire recorded in California history, according to Cal Fire officials. The fire initially comprising 37 separate blazes has now consumed more than 471,000 acres, and was only 24 percent contained as of Thursday.