BOISE — Wildfires are raging in the Golden State, and Idahoans are headed west to help. 

Currently, 34 Idaho firefighters are in California battling the deadly blazes in various parts of the state. Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Sheri Ascherfeld said there are 5,190 firefighters from 23 states assisting in the effort. 

Several of those came from southwest Idaho, including crews from Emmett, Parma and Kuna. 

Emmett and Parma sent two and three people respectively, with one vehicle from each department. They're expected to be in California for at least two weeks. Kuna officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday. 

"It’s not typical that there’s been so many fires in California, so we’re happy to go and help," Emmett Fire Chief Curt Christensen said. "We just wish there wasn’t such catastrophic fires." 

According to Christensen, the departments were called in to assist in the fire effort by the U.S. Office of Emergency Management. Boise Fire Department spokeswoman Char Jackson said the office requested the city send crews Friday, but the city did not have the resources to send staff for the period of time requested. 

CBS News reported Tuesday evening that the death toll from the wildfires has climbed to 44 and an estimated 48,000 homes are at "high or extreme risk" for damage. 

Ascherfeld said she could not provide the locations of where the firefighters came from or which specific fires they are assigned to. 

Additionally, the Red Cross of Greater Idaho has deployed three volunteers and staff members to California to assist with wildfire relief, according to an email from the organization, with more deployments possible.