Pentagon mobilizes 500 personnel to assist in California wildfire response

WASHINGTON

The Pentagon has mobilized 500 active-duty personnel to assist with firefighting and rescue operations in California as wildfires continue to devastate the state, with more personnel expected to be deployed in the coming days.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters that the Defense Department is actively preparing to assist, with over 600 California National Guardsmen currently activated.

This includes 14 hand crews for fuel mitigation, 200 military police for security operations, and 10 helicopters dedicated to firefighting and search-and-rescue efforts, according to Singh, who added that the number of military personnel involved is expected to increase over the next 24 hours.

Additionally, eight modular aerial firefighting systems, along with C-130 aircraft, are being activated under state authorities to assist with the firefighting efforts. The first two are expected to begin operations today, with the remaining six set to be operational by Sunday.

California’s March Air Reserve Base is serving as a staging area for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the defense coordinating officer has been activated to support the overall response, as announced by President Joe Biden.

Earlier this week, Singh announced that 10 Navy helicopters, equipped with water delivery buckets, are also on standby to assist with firefighting efforts under a long-standing agreement with Cal Fire. These units, trained and certified by Cal Fire, are prepared to provide supplemental firefighting support when requested by California and approved by the defense secretary.