Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today ordered the California National Guard to help fight the wildfires scorching Northern California.
The National Guard is mobilizing at least 200 of its members from Northern and Southern California to help the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as it fights hundreds of fires covering thousands of acres, the governor’s office announced this morning.
Though fires are burning throughout California, National Guard efforts will focus on north state blazes.
“I can’t say enough about the brave men and women working tirelessly, and with little rest, to battle the blazes across California,” Schwarzenegger stated in a news release. “I am announcing a big shot in the arm to their efforts by ordering California National Guard soldiers to provide direct ground support on the fires.”
The National Guard will provide hand crews, truck transportation support and command and control staff in coordination with Cal Fire and the state Office of Emergency Services. The Guard also will deploy eight bulldozers to assist in cutting fire lines, the release states.
The resources are in being added to complement the helicopters and other aviation support the Guard already has deployed as part of interagency firefighting efforts.
The amount of acreage scorched by wildfire continues to climb, while the number of personnel and resources dedicated to the firefight shifts slightly.
Also, the total number of fires has dropped, a result of the approach taken to battle the numerous blazes.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the number of fires in the state was about 600, down from more than twice that number.
Firefighters are using their resources carefully, attacking small fires first, focusing on communities in the path of flames and allowing other blazes to chew through unpopulated forest land.
“It’s like eating an elephant – you’ve got to eat it one bite at a time,” said Jason Kirchner, a Forest Service spokesman. “We have to take a step back, figure out where the best place is to make a stand and sometimes wait for the fire to come to us in those situations.”
West Coast 911 firefighter news source – Sac Bee / photo by Bill Husa – AP
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