The U.S. Defense Department has mobilized 500 active-duty troops and an array of equipment to combat California’s raging wildfires, according to Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. These Marines, stationed at Camp Pendleton, are ready to provide route clearance, commodity distribution, search and rescue, airlift, and general support as needed by federal and state authorities.
March Air Reserve Base, located 60 miles east of Los Angeles, now serves as a staging ground for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additionally, a defense coordinating officer and support team are being activated to assist efforts on the ground.
Ten Navy helicopters equipped with water buckets are prepared to join the aerial fire suppression efforts. These aircraft, along with their aircrews, are sourced from Naval Station North Island and Marine Corps Air Stations at Pendleton and Miramar. Under a long-standing agreement with CAL FIRE, these units are trained annually to bolster firefighting capabilities when called upon.
Meanwhile, over 800 National Guard personnel from California, Wyoming, and Nevada are already deployed, operating 10 helicopters for firefighting and rescue missions. This number is expected to rise in the coming days.
Singh also noted the activation of eight MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft, with two already operational and six more expected by Sunday. Coordinated by FEMA, CAL FIRE, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, these efforts aim to address the wildfires systematically.
“Fighting these fires requires intricate coordination,” Singh emphasized. “It’s not just about suppression; it’s about clearing roads, managing logistics, and helping people return home safely.”
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