More California firefighters leaving to fight Australian wildfires

(KION) The U.S. Forest Service California said more Forest Service firefighters from the state are leaving Southern California Monday to help fight wildfires in Austrailia.

The group leaving Monday is from the Angeles National Forest. They are expected to be in Australia for 30 to 45 days.

According to CNN, dozens of managers have already been sent from the United States, but this group may be the first to do more hands-on work like digging fire breaks, starting back fires and hiking through the rough terrain.

So far, at least 25 people have died as a result of the fires since September, and it is estimated that about half a billion animals have died.

Authorities said nearly 20 million acres have burned, and the fires could continue for months.