Fires on the scale burning in Northern and Southern California require the response of hundreds of firefighters. It's no wonder some came here from out of state.

In fact in that dangerous landscape of fire and smoke today are a number of northern Nevada firefighters, about 60 in all.

Some are in so-called "overhead" roles, others are manning the lines,

""Protecting homes, structures, perhaps doing some defensive burning around wild land urban interface areas," says Gwen Sanchez the Forest Fire Management Officer for the Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest based in Sparks.. "Some of the overhead positions include task force leaders, middle management type of positions."

They are drawn from various agencies. Some through mutual aid agreements. Those from federal agencies based in our area are a national resource and can respond to fires across the country.

At this time of year, seasonal staff have been laid off. Those responding now are the veteran full-time fire fighters.

"The folks that are responding to these incidents in California are really some of our more trained firefighters that we have."

They are professionals trained to respond to fires like this anywhere at anytime. Getting called to another state at this time of year, Sanchez says, is an extra sacrifice.

"Our families are used to our firefighters being gone during the summer months. It becomes more difficult when things happen outside of that that peak fire season. When they start missing things like Halloween. When they start missing Thanksgiving or Christmas, it becomes very difficult."

No one knows how long they will be gone. Sanchez says the commitment is for up to two weeks. It it were to go beyond that other personnel would be sent in to give them a break.

Either way it's time away from home at a time of year when it's least expected and most impactful.