LOS ANGELES – On Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the arrival of 72 firefighters and emergency personnel from the National Forestry Commission and Ministry of Defense in Mexico.

The international help arrives at a crucial time when LA-area firefighters are racing against time to cut off the spread of wildfires before strong winds return to push flames toward more destruction.  

“Emergencies have no borders — we are deeply grateful to our neighbors in Mexico for their unwavering support during one of our greatest times of need. Thank you to President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for lending the best of the best,” said Gov. Newsom in a statement.

According to the governor’s office, the newly arrived firefighters will form hand crews to assist fighting operations. Their numbers add to the already 14,000 personnel working around the clock in the ongoing firefight.

The fires have consumed an area larger than San Francisco, sent thousands of people fleeing, and destroyed over 12,000 structures.

AccuWeather’s preliminary estimate of the damage and economic losses so far is between $135 billion and $150 billion.