Governor Gavin Newsom dropped some big news on Sunday afternoon, announcing that he’s sending another 1,000 members of the California National Guard to Los Angeles County to tackle those fierce wildfires.
With this latest deployment, the total number of National Guard troops on the front lines will jump to 2,500, according to Newsom.
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“The men and women of the California National Guard have been on the ground since day one — not only fighting fires, but also assisting with public safety efforts in communities devastated by these fires,” Newsom said in a statement. “We thank them for their efforts to keep our communities safe.”
With this latest deployment, California has rallied over 15,000 personnel into action, bringing together firefighters, National Guard members, highway patrol officers, and transportation teams to help tackle the ongoing wildfires.
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Their response includes more than 1,700 pieces of firefighting equipment, featuring over 1,350 engines, 80 aircraft, 150 bulldozers, and 160 water tenders to help extinguish the flames. On Tuesday, Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency and rolled out an executive order to assist communities hit hard by the fires.
Then on Wednesday, President Biden quickly gave the green light for Newsom’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to back the response efforts. The state is also receiving ongoing federal support to fight the Hurst, Eaton, and Palisades Fires.
