Soldiers and airmen from California’s Army National Guard and Air National Guard spent the weekend combating the multiple wildfires that have been wreaking destruction in Los Angeles County for the past week.
“As the situation with the devastating California wildfires continues to evolve, [Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III] remains closely engaged and committed to supporting the response efforts,” Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told the media during a briefing today.
“The department remains committed to providing assistance and support to those affected by the wildfires,” Ryder added. “And we’ll continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners to respond to this disaster as we enter the final days of the current administration.”
There are currently eight Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft currently on station at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in nearby Ventura County working to assist in firefighting efforts, Ryder said.
Airmen assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing load and install the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems onto a C-130H Hercules aircraft in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jan. 10, 2025, in preparation to support firefighting efforts in the Los Angeles area. © Air Force Senior Airman Zachary Herold
The Air National Guard flew six MAFFS missions during the weekend, dropping more than 16,000 gallons of fire suppressant, Ryder said, adding that additional MAFFS missions are anticipated for today.
Ryder also said that there are now over 1,800 California National Guardsmen — up 1,000 since Friday — who have been activated to assist with firefighting efforts.
Between both the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, deployed assets in addition to the C-130s include rotary wing aircraft, hand crews and military police that are working to supplement local law enforcement, Ryder said.
Air Force Airman 1st Class Alessandro Panighetti, an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crew chief with the California Air National Guard, watches the sunrise on the ramp at Los Alamitos Army Airfield on Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, Calif., before traveling with the aircrew on a repositioning flight to a CAL FIRE helitack base, Jan. 11, 2025. © Air Force Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman
Meanwhile, Ryder said that 500 active-duty Marines stationed to the south at San Diego County’s Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and 10 active-duty Navy helicopters equipped with water delivery buckets remain standing by to assist with relief efforts, if called upon.
When questioned as to why California’s government still has yet to request assistance from those active-duty assets, Ryder said that — while he won’t speak for California — the Defense Department is doing all it can to “lean forward” to support the needs of the federal agencies involved in wildfire relief efforts.
“These [active duty] assets are available to be introduced into that mix … But we’ve got to do this in a choreographed way that synchronizes capabilities instead of [introducing] problems to an already complex situation on the ground,” Ryder said.
“We’re going to continue to closely monitor, and as soon as — and if — those assets are requested, they’ll, of course, be available,” he continued.
When asked approximately how long DOD would be willing to have those assets on standby without any request for assistance before standing down, Ryder replied that — though he wouldn’t speculate on the future — U.S. Northern Command is working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other interagency leads to make an “hour-by-hour, day-by-day determination” as to what the additional requirements of DOD, if any, may be.
“We understand the significance and devastation of these fires,” Ryder responded, “and the [Defense Department] is going to do everything we can to support all those who are battling these fires; to include having [these active-duty capabilities] available, should [they] be requested.”
