BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County firefighters are in the thick of the battle against the wildfires devastating Southern California.

South Whatcom Fire Authority says its E22 crew and the rest of their team arrived in Los Angeles on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 12. The crew’s arrival came days after outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee announced more help to fight the fires.

Their first assignment is to the Palisades Fire near the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood in west Los Angeles for structure protection.

They’re just one of 13 strike teams that Washington state has sent to California, including 65 fire engines, 13 command vehicles and over 250 personnel.

So far, the wildfires have killed at least 24 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the LA area.

Four major fires have consumed over 62 square miles, over two times the size of Bellingham.