(JTA) – Israeli firefighters arrived in Sacramento, California, to assist with battling a wave of wildfires sweeping through the area. It marked the first time that Israelis have been sent to the United States to help fight fires, J. The Jewish News of Northern California reported. The delegation landed Sunday, August 30, and is scheduled to remain for approximately two weeks. It includes 10 officers and firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Services, rescue and forest fire experts, and a Foreign Ministry representative. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg greeted the firefighters’ arrival in the capital city with a tweet. “As a Jewish mayor, I’m particularly proud and happy to see them come to our aid,” it said in part. As of August 31, there were 18 major fires burning across California, with over 16,000 firefighters mobilized to battle them. The fires have burned more than 1.46 million acres since they started on Aug. 15, sparked by a siege of dry lightning.

Main Photo: A fire in Napa County as seen from Middletown in Lake County, Calif., Aug. 19, 2020. (Jade May)