New Jersey Sending More Firefighters To Battle Western Wildfires

TRENTON, N.J., (CBS) -- New Jersey is sending an additional 20 firefighters to help battle the wildfires that are raging across parts of the Northwest.

The members of the state's Forest Fire Service are expected to leave over the weekend or early next week.

They will supplement 32 firefighters, including three wildfire truck crews, dispatched by the Christie Administration over a week ago.

Officials say the 20 members of the hand crew that left New Jersey Aug. 15 have been directly assisting the U.S. Forest Service in fighting wildfires in LoLo National Forest in Montana. Immediately after arriving in Oregon Aug. 17, officials say the three truck crews were assigned to fight wildfires in Washington State.

"Our commitment to assist in this national effort to battle these dangerous fires is unwavering," Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said in a news release on Friday. "We are proud to be sending our dedicated and brave crews from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service to pitch in and help protect others."

Officials say New Jersey's firefighters are among nearly 30,000 firefighters from across the country battling fires raging across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and California.

The U.S. Forest Service will be reimbursing the state for all costs associated with the deployment of crews to the fires in the Pacific Northwest, according to officials.

Officials say the assignments will have no impacts on the ability of the Forest Fire Service to fight any wildfires in New Jersey.