LOS ANGELES (KVAL) — California’s call for help meant a quick mobilization for the Oregon Department of Forestry’s strike teams.

Within 24 hours, six teams were en route to help tackle the blazes, and they’re making an impact according to an ODF representative on the ground in LA County.

Strikes teams consisting of six engines with up to four firefighters per engine made their way from Oregon to Southern California over the weekend.

For the second time in less than a year, a state-to-state mutual aid agreement between Oregon Department of Forestry and Cal Fire is exercised after being put in place last July.

"It's a relationship, and it's great to make it reciprocal. The first time, their folks came to us. Now we get to go back and help them out. They came up in a trying time for us. It's always nice to know that somebody's got your back. That's where these state-to-state agreements come in," said TJ Ramos, Assistant Area Director for the Southern Oregon Area who's serving as ODF’s Agency Representative in California.

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After Safety checks in Davis, CA, the teams continued south awaiting resource orders that directed them to the Eaton Fire on the southeast.

"We were at Eaton for a day with all of us, and then the strike team was split between Eaton and Palisades, which is our current situation for our strike teams," said Ramos.

The teams know it’s all hands on deck most hours of the day to beat back the blazes.

Ramos says a typical shift is 12 to 16-hour for the day.

"Both fires are looking really good. We have some red flag warnings that are in effect the next couple days. The winds were supposed to come in last evening, but they stayed pretty high level. They didn't come surface level, so right now things are looking really good," said Ramos. "We got about 24 more hours to get through for our folks to be in a pretty decent spot."

The Oregon Department of Forestry's team is comprised of firefighters from all over the state who know how to work with each other.

Their engines of choice — wildland engines that specialize in wildfires, so they're meeting with some unfamiliar territory as they work.

"These fires did push into the urban areas more than what we're used to. We're used to trees. We're used to slopes. We're not used to buildings and necessarily all the stuff that comes with it," said Ramos. "We do fight fire in the urban area; however, it's just a different level of situational awareness for us. Some stuff that we don't always have to pay attention to whether that's power lines or the general public being more around."

Jessica Neujahr, public affairs officer for ODF says the teams wasted no time offering their service to help the communities where many have been displaced since the wildfires began.

"In this off season, it's not a mandatory requirement for them to do this. They do this because they believe in helping people," said Neujahr. "Last year, California sent firefighters up to us to help, and this is kind of our opportunity to return that favor."

For the 2024 wildfire season - which the Oregon State Fire Marshal says burned more acreage than any fire season on record in the state - ODF says Oregon had a lack of crew bosses and engine bosses -- a necessity to send out fire crews.

California sent 21 management level firefighters to fill that gap.

Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office also sent hundreds of firefighters to help.

OSFM works through a mutual aid system as well and says local fire agencies can send resources while having several thousand firefighters remaining at home.

"Before we send out any of our firefighters out of state, we look at our conditions. We look at the climate and the weather for the next two weeks and make sure that we are in a good space to send people out because first and foremost, Oregon is our priority," said Neujahr.

Neujahr says if there's a scenario where a wildfire takes place in Oregon, firefighters can be called back before their two-week assignment ends.

The two-week assignment can be extended or ended early based on the need from Cal Fire.

Expenses to ODF to send people will be reimbursed by the state of California.

"It's just very humbling for us to be here, and we're happy to be here. Morale is great, production is good, and our crews are being effective in what they're being asked to do," said Ramos.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal has mobilized a total of:

• 21 strike teams
• 75 fire engines
• 30 water tenders
• 370 firefighters