Forest Fires In California Expand, Pentagon Deploys 500 Personnel To Help Fire

Fires in California (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A forest fire continues to destroy the state of California. The Pentagon has deployed 500 active personnel to assist with fire and rescue operations that will be deployed in the coming days. Quoted from Anadolu on Saturday, January 11, Pentagon spokesman Sabrina Singh told reporters that the Department of Defense is actively preparing to assist, with more than 600 California National Guard members who have now been activated. The personnel include 14 field teams for fuel mitigation, 200 military police for security operations, and 10 helicopters dedicated to fire fighting and rescue efforts, according to Singh. He also added that the number of military personnel involved is expected to increase in the next 24 hours. In addition, eight modular air fighting systems, along with C-130 aircraft, are being activated under state authorities to assist fire fighting efforts. The first two units are expected to start operating today, with the remaining six units scheduled for operations on Sunday, January 12.Fred Air Reserves in California serve as preparation areas for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and defense coordinating officers have been activated to support the overall response, as announced by US President Joe Biden.

Awal pekan ini, Singh mengumumkan bahwa 10 helikopter Angkatan Laut, yang dilengkapi dengan ember pengangkut air, juga dalam status siaga untuk membantu upaya pemadaman kebakaran di bawah perjanjian jangka panjang dengan Cal Fire.Unit-unit ini, yang telah dilatih dan disertifikasi oleh Cal Fire, siap memberikan dukungan tambahan untuk pemadaman kebakaran jika diminta oleh California dan disetujui oleh menteri pertahanan.