Florida sending crews to fight wildfires in Colorado

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida is sending 40 firefighters to help battle a series of blazes in mountainous areas of Colorado, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Thursday.

The Florida Forest Service crews, working in five-member units, will receive their assignments Friday as they join firefighters from Alabama, Georgia and Puerto Rico in battling the fires.

"This type of work can be exhausting and hazardous due to the extreme terrain and intense flames found in Colorado," Florida State Forester Jim Karels said in a prepared statement. "By assisting other states, our wildland firefighters build their expertise and enhance their capability to protect Florida from approximately 4,000 wildfires every year."

The deployment brings to 70 the number of Forest Service workers helping with wildfire suppression and management operations in eight states.