Imperial County sends firefighters to the Los Angeles fires

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The El Centro Fire Department (ECFD) along with other Imperial County agencies were deployed to the Eaton Fire.

ECFD says about four more firefighters were deployed on the weekend as translators to assist with Mexican firefighters who were deployed from different parts of Mexico, including Mexico City.

"We are fortunate enough to have firefighters here in the border communities that are bilingual so we pulled a couple of them here...the [Imperial County Fire Department] as well as the City of Calexico...we all contributed some personal and they reported up to the LA fires and right now, the reports are that they are conducting operations of search and rescue," said Battalion Chief Eduardo Ainza with ECFD.

ECFD saus the additional firefighters from different fire departments were deployed to the Palisades Fire to help Mexican firefighters with the translation.

"Right now, the reports are that they are conducting operations of search and rescue," Ainza shared.

The Imperial County Fire Task Force (ICFTF) made their way to the Eaton Fire last Wednesday.

"A lot of devastation, a lot of homes being destroyed the first couple days were just horrific," said Alex Silva, leader of the ICFTF.

Silva said their biggest challenge in fighting the fires are the winds.