California mobilizes nearly 6,000 boots on the ground to combat multiple wildfires, protect communities

News

Sep 10, 2024

What you need to know: California's response to multiple fast-growing wildfires includes 5,755 boots on the ground and hundreds of engines, dozers, and water tankers - plus, the largest aerial firefighting fleet in the world.

SACRAMENTO - With multiple fast-growing wildfires impacting communities across California, the state has mobilized a massive air and ground response to contain the wildfires and help keep communities safe.

The 24/7 coordinated response includes thousands of boots on the ground, including firefighters, soldiers, law enforcement and first responders, as well as air assets including 51 helicopters and 9 fixed-wing aircraft.

The state and local agencies have deployed the following resources - including CAL FIRE, California National Guard, and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES) - across multiple wildfires:

• 5,755 total boots on the ground across 162 crews, including firefighters, soldiers and first responders
• 51 helicopters
• 9 fixed-wing aircraft, including 7 CAL FIRE aircraft and 2 National Guard C-130 aircraft
• 520 fire engines
• 75 dozers
• 141 water tankers

We are working day and night to protect communities up and down the state of California. Our response includes nearly 6,000 boots on the ground, hundreds of engines and water tankers, and the world's largest aerial firefighting force.

Thank you to our brave firefighters, soldiers and first responders for the 24/7 work to keep our communities safe.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Currently, there are 16 active wildfires in California that have burned 613,819 acres. So far this year, 6,045 wildfires have burned more than 900,000 acres. Active wildfire information is available at fire.ca.gov.

The 2024 state budget also protected $2.6 billion through 2028 to protect Californians from wildfires by improving forest health through fire prevention programs, including prescribed fire and other fuel reduction projects - investments that have been key to this year's wildfire response.

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