Fire Fighting in California

WASHINGTON – WEATHER – The Defense Department is providing assistance to local emergency officials battling intense wildfires in the Southern California area, Defense Department spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren said here today.

California Ablaze with Wild Fire

“Emergency management officials in Southern California have been battling some pretty intense wildfires over the past few days,” he said. “DOD personnel and equipment based in the Southern California area have been assisting local first responders with fire suppression operations.”

The colonel described Navy and Marine Corps efforts to help subdue the wildfires using resources from military installations in the region.

“The Marine Corps is supporting the effort with five CH-53 Super Stallions and eight CH-46 Chinook helicopters,” Warren said.

“The Navy provided six MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. Additionally, firefighters from Navy bases at Coronado, San Diego, Point Loma [and] El Centro are supporting neighboring civilian firefighters with five trucks and approximately 50 personnel.”

Warren also noted the wildfires have affected military installations, personnel and families in the region, forcing evacuations.

“One fire line, known as the Tomahawk fire line, has caused closures and evacuations of portions of Camp Pendleton and Naval Weapon Station Fallbrook,” he said. “To date, 356 families have been evacuated to shelters on other parts of Camp Pendleton. More than 6,300 acres on Camp Pendleton have burned so far.”

More than 380 civilian and military firefighters are engaged in fighting that fire, the colonel said.