More than 600 California National Guardsmen are currently activated to assist in the fire response efforts in California. This includes 14 hand crews for fuel mitigation, 200 military police for security operations, and 10 helicopters for firefighting and search and rescue operations. The Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary announced that this number is expected to increase within the next 24 hours.
In addition to the National Guardsmen, eight C-130 aircraft equipped with modular aerial firefighting systems (MAFFS) are being activated, with two of them expected to begin operating on Friday. Furthermore, 500 active-duty Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton, California, are on standby to provide support such as route clearance, commodity distribution, search and rescue, rotary wing airlift, and general assistance as needed.
Ten Navy helicopters are also prepared to assist in the ongoing fire response efforts. The Pentagon has stated that hundreds more Marines and other service members are ready to provide assistance if called upon. The combined efforts of the National Guardsmen, Marines, and Navy helicopters aim to bolster the firefighting and rescue operations in California as the state continues to battle wildfires.
