Firefighters and engines from Central Oregon are on their way to Southern California to help local fire crews as they battle multiple fires tearing across parts of the Los Angeles metro area.

The Central Oregon group is one of 15 strike teams organized and dispatched by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The teams include 300 firefighters and 75 engines.

Wind gusts of more than 80 mph have fanned wildfires in several cities around Los Angeles, with embers being thrown ahead of the flames causing spot fires in neighborhoods and on hillsides. The fires have destroyed thousands of buildings and forced tens of thousands to flee, many abandoning their cars on city streets. Cities most impacted include Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

Dan Derlacki, deputy fire marshal for the city of Bend, said Central Oregon is dispatching 11 firefighters, one command vehicle and three engines. The crews and vehicles come from Bend, Redmond, Sisters-Camp Sherman, Black Butte, Jefferson County and Alfalfa fire departments.

The crews left around noon on Wednesday. Derlacki believes they will arrive in the Los Angeles area within 24 hours of departure. Derlacki said it’s not clear yet what role the crews will play in upon arrival.

“Those resources could be used for firefighting. They could be used for mop-ups — going into areas that are already burned and trying to make sure they don’t reignite or throw embers in places they don’t want them. It could be going to triage homes and buildings to make sure people have evacuated. There are lots of different things they could do,” said Derlacki.

Kimberly Johnson, an engine boss with the Oregon Department of Forestry in Sisters, is one of the wildland firefighters headed to Southern California.

“We are heading down there to see where we can be, where we can best serve the people of California,” said Johnson.

Johnson said she expects to be assigned to a fire or prepositioned in an area in case of fire. She said it’s not clear if her unit will be assigned to wildland fire areas for structural fires but she is prepared for challenging conditions.

“I am expecting extreme fire behavior. Everyone I have spoken with that has been to Southern California has given me a serious warning about extreme fire behavior and the need to be very cautious,” said Johnson.

Derlacki said such departures are done on a reciprocal basis, with the understanding that sometime in the future Oregon may need assistance from fire crews in California.

“We are helping them get through what sounds like is a pretty catastrophic fire, multiple fires down there,” he said.

Derlacki adds that Bend Fire & Rescue remains fully staffed while local crews are in California.

Costs related to sending the crews will be reimbursed directly by California, according to Kassie Keller, public affairs director for the Oregon State Fire Marshal.

Separate from the crews dispatched by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, the Oregon Department of Forestry is sending 70 wildland firefighters and 30 type-6 engines. These engines can hold around 400 gallons of water plus firefighting tools and equipment.

“The perk of them is they are the most versatile and can maneuver the most off-road,” said Jessica Neujahr, a public affairs specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Thousands flee as wildfires burn out of control and destroy homes across the Los Angeles area