An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 25, 2007

Santa Ana Winds Subside; Officials Expect to Make Fire Progress

By Jim Garamone National Guard Bureau

WASHINGTON - The Santa Ana winds in Southern California are subsiding, allowing firefighters, both military and civilian, to make progress against wildfires that are rampaging through the area, California National Guard officials said.

C-130 airplanes equipped with modular air firefighting systems have flown five sorties and dropped almost 84,000 gallons of fire retardant since California officials activated them yesterday, National Guard Bureau officials said. The aircraft hit the Poomacha fire, northeast of San Diego.

California officials said 18 wildfires have burned 459,877 acres. Three fires burning on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton have consumed 6,200 acres. The base is not being evacuated, but officials have relocated 6,100 personnel and family members to less-threatened places on the base, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. "There are currently 600 other (Defense Department)-affiliated people being given shelter at Camp Pendleton," he said. "These are the people out in the community that are having their homes threatened or have lost their homes."

Three Navy bases -- Naval Base San Diego, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and Naval Air Station El Centro -- are billeting 2,670 Defense Department evacuees, according to a U.S. Northern Command release. All Defense Department components in the area are being tasked to account for all personnel as part of the declaration of Southern California as a federal disaster area.

There are 214 active duty personnel, 72 Defense Department civilians and 2,492 National Guardsmen engaged in either ground or airborne firefighting or security and relief operations, Whitman said. In addition, the Defense Department is providing 18 fire engines, and about 17,000 California National Guardsmen are available for duty.

Eighteen military helicopters from the California Guard, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force are participating in the firefight, and 14 fixed-wing aircraft, including the C-130s, also are involved.

Air Force U-2 surveillance planes flew some imagery missions in support of the firefighting effort. "Later today, it is expected that we may have a Global Hawk mission that may provide some imagery," Whitman said. The Global Hawk is an unmanned aerial vehicle that can loiter over areas for long periods of time and broadcast real-time imagery to ground systems.

"Our missions are flown in support of state missions," Whitman said.

 

 

Related Articles
(left to right) Capt. George Bouziden and Capt. Derek Teague takes the Oath of Commissioned Officers during their direct commissioning ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, July 30, 2025. The two officers received their commission through a U.S. Army Talent Innovation Division program designed to identify and bring in highly skilled civilian information technology professionals to strengthen the Army’s cyber capabilities.
Cyber Officers Join Oklahoma Guard Through Direct Commissioning Program
By Anthony Jones, | Aug. 1, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma National Guard welcomed two new officers into its ranks on Wednesday during a direct commissioning ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma.Capt. Derek Teague and Capt...

U.S. Air Force leaders from the 154th Air Expeditionary Wing pose for a photo during Talisman Sabre 25 in Northern Territory, Australia, July 24, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, which advances a safe and secure Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns.
Air Guard Demonstrates Critical Indo-Pacific Capabilities During Talisman Sabre 25
By Maj. Eve Derfelt, | July 31, 2025
BRISBANE, Queensland – Airmen from Hawaii, California, Guam, Idaho and Wisconsin Air National Guard units participated in Talisman Sabre 25, Australia’s premier military exercise that underscored the U.S. Air National Guard's...

South Dakota National Guard Soldiers with members of the Surinamese Armed Forces during a first-of-its-kind jungle warfare exchange that concluded July 18, 2025. Service members from the SAF and the SDNG spent ten days sharing critical skills in survival, navigation, and patrolling. This successful collaboration is a part of the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP).
South Dakota Guard, Suriname Armed Forces Strengthen Partnership
By Staff Sgt. Breanne Donnell, | July 31, 2025
PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The South Dakota National Guard and Suriname Armed Forces, or SAF, strengthened their partnership during a first-of-its-kind jungle warfare exchange that concluded July 18.Service members from the SAF...