California National Guardsmen Reinforce Firefighters

The Governor has proclaimed a State of Emergency in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura.

An Army National Guard firefighter puts on his SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) and helmet. Image courtesy: Cpl. Benjamin Cossel/U.S. Army

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed the California National Guard (CNG) to make 1500 guardsmen available to support the firefighting efforts in Southern California. The 1500 guardsmen, including 200 troops currently patrolling the California/Mexico border, will be deployed at the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to areas where they can have the greatest impact.

“It is a tragic time for California. I saw the tremendous devastation caused by these fires first hand today and I want to commend all of the brave firefighters that have been battling the blazes around our state. They have done an extraordinary job,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “We have the best-trained, the best-equipped and the most experienced firefighters in the world and I am committed to making all of the state’s resources available to them to get these fires under control. That is why I have declared a state of emergency and directed the National Guard to support the firefighters in Southern California.

“I urge everyone to follow the directions and evacuation orders issued by the emergency personnel.”

Governor Schwarzenegger yesterday requested four CNG helicopters through OES to support the firefighting efforts of numerous Southern California wildfires. The four aircraft are currently on stand-by at Mather Air Field (1 Firehawk) and Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base (3 UH-60 Blackhawks). The UH-60 Blackhawk and the Firehawk are capable of fire suppression missions as well as personnel transport in and out of dangerous and hard to reach locations.

The CNG is experienced in executing firefighting response missions and recently conducted their annual 3-day large-scale interagency wildfire training exercise near Fresno in May with CAL FIRE and the USDA Forest Service.

Governor Schwarzenegger last night proclaimed a State of Emergency in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura due to more than eleven major wildfires to make more resources available to fight the fires.