The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has deployed a search and rescue task force to the East Coast to help areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, which has killed at least 40 people and caused widespread destruction.

Three members of t Fire-Rescue Department were seriously injured in a vehicle crash early Sunday while heading to assist in hurricane relief efforts in North Carolina, officials said.

"These first responders put their own lives on the line every day, here at home and around the country when called," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

Three members of a California search and rescue team were injured in a vehicle crash Sunday morning as they were driving cross-country to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina.

Three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department were seriously injured in a vehicle crash near the Texas-Louisiana border Sunday while on a support mission for those endangered by Hurricane Helene,

The vehicle crash happened Sunday morning near the border of Texas and Louisiana. They are part of a 48-person team that was headed to North Carolina.

The three were injured on eastbound Highway 20 near the border of Texas and Louisiana at about 2:40 a.m. local time, said Asst. Fire Chief of Emergency Operations James Gaboury at a Sunday morning press conference.

Three members of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Urban Search & Rescue California Task Force 8 were hospitalized after a crash in East Texas Sunday. Authorities said the crew was part of a 48-person team heading to North Carolina to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

Three San Diego Fire Department crew members were injured in a crash Sunday morning while on their way to assist with Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Authorities say the three were apart of SDFD's Urban Search & Rescue California Task Force 8 on their way to North Carolina.

A hurricane relief crew headed to North Carolina from California was involved in a major crash Sunday morning near the Texas-Louisiana border along Interstate 20.