Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today ordered an additional 2,000 California National Guard (CNG) personnel to complete firefighter training, boosting the state’s firefighting forces to battle the state’s ongoing fires and to prepare for the threat of additional fires over the next several months. These personnel will be trained in phases to stand ready for deployment as requested by the state's California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Yesterday, the federal government committed to sending out-of-state firefighters to train these additional CNG personnel on critical firefighting techniques. Since July 1, the Governor has directed more than 400 CNG soldiers to be trained and deployed to fires across the state.

“I am ordering 2,000 additional California National Guard personnel to boost our firefighting forces,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “We already have 400 guard members on the front lines, and once these new troops are trained and certified, they will be ready to pitch in at a moment’s notice throughout the fire season.”

The CNG, with support from neighboring states’ National Guard and reserve forces, currently has the following resources allocated to the state’s firefighting efforts:

· The CNG has to date mobilized more than 1,000 personnel to provide support to the ongoing firefighting effort, including more than 400 personnel assigned to hand crews working alongside other firefighters.

· There are currently 22 rotary-wing aircraft supporting the firefighting effort, including 14 CNG helicopters and eight helicopters from Utah, Nebraska, Washington, Arizona and Oregon. To date, these rotary-wing aircraft have dropped nearly 3 million gallons of water.

· CNG is also providing the following fixed-wing aircraft in support of the wildfires: one C-130J support aircraft for personnel and equipment transport and one RC-26 providing aerial imagery support.

· In addition to California aircraft, there are currently eight C-130H cargo aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) that are assisting from other states. These MAFFS equipped aircraft—three from the North Carolina Air National Guard, three from the Colorado Air Force Reserve and two from the Wyoming Air National Guard—are capable of dropping up to 3,000 gallons of water or retardant per mission. To date, they have dropped nearly one million gallons of retardant.

In addition to CNG personnel, more firefighting resources are responding to California from outside the United States to assist in the unified fight against this unprecedented wildfire siege. More relief is on the way from Mexico, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

“Everyone is working together. Local, state and federal officials, and we are even getting international help,” Governor Schwarzenegger said.

The Mexican government is sending 90 firefighters, five fire crews and five fire engines to aid in California’s firefighting efforts. Canada is sending four more air tankers and two lead planes to bolster support from the air, and ground troops will get aid in the form of 40 additional firefighters from New Zealand and Australia.

Earlier this week, Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter to President Bush requesting additional federal resources that California urgently needs to fight the ongoing wildfires and prepare for more expected lightning strikes. Following up to his letter, the Governor yesterday spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff who promised to provide additional federal resources as soon as possible.

This multi-national effort is being coordinated through each country's government, the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Governor's Office of Emergency Services and CAL FIRE. The resources will be deployed throughout the state based on the ongoing needs of the more than 300 active fires still burning throughout the state and in preparation for future fires.