NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – As California continues to fight the wildfire fueled by high winds, a New Mexico team is there to help. "It's an honor to be able to be a part of it and to show that we're here," said Nathan Miller, Wildland Superintendent for the City of Santa Fe and Strike Team leader. Story continues below Don't Miss: State medical board revokes Albuquerque neurosurgeon’s license Community: ‘We want to do right by this brand’: New owners of Marble Brewery speak out Crime: Otero County sheriff’s deputy facing murder charge after fatally shooting teen National: Do Americans want more states? Are we on the right track now? The team of 25 personnel from fire agencies across New Mexico drove to California last week to help crews there fight the flames. Working on-and-off 24-hour shifts, Miller said they were first assigned to help protect neighborhoods. "Looking through the homes on the outside of it, scraping any vegetation away from it, from the house the best we could to prevent any encroachment of fire potential," said Miller. The New Mexico crews were also assigned to do what's known as "cold-mopping," which is hiking intense hills to make sure there are no hotspots near the fire line. Miller said these types of fires are becoming more common. "I will relate them to the Calf Canyon Hermits Peak Fire along with the South Fork and Salt Fire just because all of them are like this one, what I see is wind-driven," said Miller. "When you have wind-driven fire there's a lot of, you know, a lot of property is lost at that point in time, unfortunately." A bright spot in the darkness is New Mexico crews seeing familiar faces who helped them during those New Mexico fires. "I've actually seen a few of the people that were out there working with us in 2022 out here on the fire line," said Miller. "Even though it's a tragic incident of the fire, there are still friendships that have been built in the past that you're still being able to see and, you know, visit with people out here sometimes." New Mexico crews are happy to help while people in Los Angeles show their appreciation. "They're very eager to come up and shake somebody's hand to say thank you. They may have lost a home or they know somebody who may have lost a home but just how respectful the public is with all the fire agencies is something that's kind of stuck out," said Miller. As of Tuesday morning, New Mexico crews are expected to return on January 26.