ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members from four states are continuing efforts to thwart Texas wildfires that have scorched 1.6 million acres and destroyed 244 homes, Guard officials said here today.
Since April 18, about 60 Army and Air National Guard members from California, North Carolina, Texas and Wyoming have been working around the clock to fight the wildfires with ground suppression support packages and Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has requested a major disaster declaration which would make the state eligible for federal assistance responding to and recovering from the emergency.
The Department of Homeland Security National Operations Center has upgraded the wildfires to a “Phase One Awareness Event,” which signifies a man-made event, natural disaster or other event that can impact critical infrastructure.
In support of the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing, the North Carolina ANG’s 145th AW and the Wyoming ANG’s 153rd AW has stood up at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, as the air tanker base of operations for the MAFFS mission.
Texas Army National Guard UH-60 Black hawk helicopters have also been activated to assist with firefighting efforts and citizen evacuations.