By Phil Drake, Helena Independent Record

James Brown, Montana state auditor and commissioner of securities and insurance, said Monday he sent a letter to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara offering assistance to help deal with the aftermath of the devastating wildfires.

Brown, recently sworn in as commissioner, told Lara that while he was still learning various aspects of his role, he knew it was important to help colleagues when he could and offer the assistance of his office “to our fellow Americans when they may need it.”

He said wildfires and other disasters know no state boundaries. Brown said his predecessor, Troy Downing, sent some staff to Hawaii after the fires in 2023 caused significant damage on the island of Maui to help the insurance commissioner’s office there with consumer assistance and document processing.

“In the spirit of helping another neighbor in the Western United States, I make the same heartfelt offer to you and your agency,” he wrote.

Brown’s offer to the California Department of Insurance comes shortly after several firefighters from Montana went to help with the fires that have been burning since Jan. 7 and destroyed communities.

As of Monday morning, 24 have been killed, and more than 12,000 buildings and other structures have been destroyed.