{"id":76892,"date":"2025-01-14T01:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T01:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2025\/01\/14\/1800-california-national-guardsmen-activated-for-la-fire-response\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T16:43:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T16:43:31","slug":"1800-california-national-guardsmen-activated-for-la-fire-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2025\/01\/14\/1800-california-national-guardsmen-activated-for-la-fire-response\/","title":{"rendered":"1,800 California National Guardsmen activated for LA fire response"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Nearly 2,000 California National Guardsmen have been activated to help battle deadly wildfires that have destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area, Pentagon officials<\/a> said Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thousand eight hundred California Guardsmen will support response efforts, including firefighting crews, aircraft and military police that are working in support of local law enforcement, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a Monday briefing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems, which can drop 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant, were stationed nearby at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station to assist in fire-fighting efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The planes dropped 16,000 gallons of fire suppressant over the weekend to contain the fires, according to Ryder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten Navy helicopters with water delivery capabilities and 500 active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton, California, are on standby to assist if requested by lead response agencies, Ryder said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last week, multiple wildfires have burned tens of thousands of acres across the Los Angeles area, killing at least 24 people<\/a> and destroying thousands of homes and businesses<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

California Governor Gavin Newsom increased the number of activated California National Guardsmen by 1,000 over the weekend, with deployed service members including military police forces and other Guardsmen supporting firefighting training, according to a release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe men and women of the California National Guard have been on the ground since day one \u2014 not only fighting fires, but also assisting with public safety efforts in communities devastated by these fires,\u201d Newsom said. \u201cWe thank them for their efforts to keep our communities safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of 2 p.m. local time, the Palisades fire, the largest of the blazes, was 14% contained, having destroyed 1,280 structures, ravaged 23,713 acres and killed at least eight people, according<\/a> to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A status report<\/a> provided by the same department also shows that the Eaton fire, which decimated the Altadena hillside community, is 33% contained as of late Monday afternoon. It has burnt 14,117 acres, destroyed 1,902 structures and killed at least 11 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\t