The Los Angeles County Fire Department deployed a K9 Human Remains Detection team to New Mexico Friday to assist in the search for victims of wildfires raging in the state.
The South Fork and Salt fires have burned more than 23,000 acres in New Mexico, destroying an estimated 1,400 homes and other structures and forcing more than 8,000 people to evacuate.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency activated the LACoFD team Thursday night, and it deployed to New Mexico Friday afternoon, according to the department.
Dispatched to the fires were:
— Fire Capt. Celina Serrano with K9 Prentiss;
— Firefighter Paramedic Nicholas Bartel with K9 Six;
— Firefighter Paramedic Edward Ruiz with K9 Harper; and,
— Firefighter Paramedic Jonathan Mungia with K9 Clifford.