Firefighter crews from around the Greater Houston area and Texas are being deployed to California to help battle the raging wildfires that have so far taken 31 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Crews from Needham Fire & Rescue/ Montgomery County ESD#4 are among the Texas departments sending firefighters to battle California wildfires.

On Nov. 11 Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas was sending 200 firefighters and 55 fire engines from local departments across the state, along with teams from the Texas Forest Service at Texas A&M, to California today.

Gov. Abbott said in a statement:

“When disaster strikes, it is imperative that the call for help is answered, and that is exactly what these men and women serving in fire departments across Texas are doing. As California continues to fight these fires, Texas will be sending its bravest firefighters to aid in their efforts. Our prayers go out to all who have been impacted by these devastating wildfires, and the state of Texas will continue to offer any resources to aid in the recovery process.”

According to information provided by Abbott’s office, fire department crews will be deployed from:

Abilene
Amarillo
Austin
Baytown
Bexar County ESD 8
Bexas County District 7
Boerne
Borger
Bryan
Cleburne
Conroe
Dallas
Eastex
FlowerMound
Fort Worth
Frisco
Fulshear
Galveston
Kyle
Lake Travis
Longview
McKinney
Needham
New Waverly
Oak Hill
Paris
Parker
Parker County ESD 1
Plano
Porter
Powderly VFD
Prosper
Roanoak
Round Rock
San Angelo
San Antonio
Shertz
Sommervell County
Southlake
Weatherford
Webster
Wichita Falls
Willis ESD 1

More than 4,500 firefighters have battled the blaze since the wildfires started Thursday.

Photo Credit: Needham Fire & Rescue.