Governor Doubles CA National Guard Ground Forces Deploying to N. California Wildfires

MAJOR GENERAL WADE: Good morning everybody. I'm Major General William H. Wade II and I am the Adjutant General before the California National Guard.

This morning we're doing something that we heretofore have not done and that is to take our soldiers and put them on the fire line. We've always used our unique military capabilities in other ways with MPs, truck drivers, cooks, fighting fires from the air with our pilots, but this is something different. Our Governor has asked us to step forward and help out the fire service. Exigent circumstances require extraordinary response measures and that's what we're about to do and the Governor is kind enough to be here today for this first time ever commitment of National Guard forces to actually fight on the fire lines.

So, with that I'd like to introduce my boss, the Governor of the state of California, the Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger.

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER: First of all, I wanted to say hello to everyone and happy July 4^th.

From the bottom of my heart, let me just say how much I appreciate all the sacrifices and all the hard work that you do for our state and for our nation. I have the utmost respect for each and everyone of you and it is a great honor to be your Commander in Chief. Once again, because of all the fires that we are fighting here, California needs you. And once again, you have answered the call.

Normal fire seasons in California start end of summer, then it goes through fall, but each year we have seen a change in the fire season and now there is no more fire season because it's all year round. Wildfires in Southern California last October burned half a million acres. They forced evacuations of 321,000 people, claimed 10 lives and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. And with the help of the real-life action heroes of the California National Guard, the State did a fantastic job. Unlike Katrina, where there was chaos and finger-pointing throughout the whole thing, the whole world watched us last year and they were amazed on how well we did. That would not have happened without the National Guard and without the brave Californians like you. From helicopters dropping water, to running shelters and protecting evacuated neighborhoods, you performed heroically, but it was, of course, no surprise, because that is exactly what the men and women of the California National Guard always do.

Your troops served in World War II, in Korea and Vietnam and you left your jobs and your families to serve multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. You spent almost two years in helping us secure the borders with Mexico. You always have saved the day, no matter what happens, if it's earthquakes, floods, fires or any other disasters.

The sacrifices that you and your families make are extraordinary. So naturally, I called General Wade this last week when California's back was up against the wall again. We deployed 200 soldiers on Tuesday and today I'm ordering another 200 to begin reporting on Sunday, because we can fight 25 or 30 or 35 fires simultaneously and we have done that in the past and we have done it well. But imagine you wake up like I did almost 14 days ago and get my briefing in the morning and you hear there are 500 fires at one time. 500. Two hours later I found out there are 1000 fires. The next morning I wake up and get another briefing, there were 1,400 fires and this is how it went on. Now there are 1,700 fires all over the state of California.

Now, no state can be prepared for something like this. We were overwhelmed. Out personnel and resources was stretched to the breaking point. Luckily, the Federal Government helped us and 40 other states sent firefighters and fire engines and other resources that we needed very badly. But fires are still burning and our firefighters are exhausted. They are burned out. So this is why I asked General Wade for additional manpower and he did not hesitate.

Now, here we are today. Many of you are volunteering to give up your holiday and to be trained by CAL FIRE so that you can go to the front lines once again. General Wade and I know, of course, what the men and women of the California National Guard are made of. We know how you put public safety above your own and how you never quit until the job is finished and how you're tough and proud patriots who love your state and nation with all your hearts.

So this morning when I woke up, I said to myself, well, if you have to work on July 4^th, so can I. And this is why I wouldn't have missed this opportunity for anything to come up here and to personally say to all of you, thank you, thank you, thank you. With your help, I know we will win those fires and I know we will save people and protect property and we will show the world once again that we can do it and we can do a great job.

Thank you very much. Thank you, all of you.