California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday ordered California National Guard soldiers to provide direct ground support to help firefights combat wildfires in Northern California.
"I can't say enough about the brave men and women working tirelessly, and with little rest, to battle the blazes across California," said Schwarzenegger. "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 is mobilizing at least 200 soldiers from Northern and Southern California units to accomplish this task, according to the governor.
Under Schwarzenegger's order, the Guard will provide 10 Type IIhandcrews, truck transportation support, and command and control personnel in coordination with firefighters and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
The Guard is also preparing to deploy eight bulldozers to assist in cutting fire lines.
The ground crews and bulldozers are in addition to the fire fighting helicopters and other aviation support the California National Guard has deployed as part of the interagency effort to combat wildfires across the state.
The California National Guard remains prepared to respond to other contingencies should the need arise, Schwarzenegger said.
Firefighters have been battling more than 1,000 lightning-sparked wildfires across Northern California.
Soggy weather blanketed much of the Northern California coast with fog and light drizzle Tuesday morning, but it did little to aid firefighters because the moisture did not extend inland or up to the high elevations where most of the wildfires are located, said National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Tentinger.
Source:Xinhua
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