Governor gains federal approval to mobilize military troops to fight fires

SACRAMENTO – As wildfires threatened communities across the state, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. secured approval Aug. 21, from U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to mobilize military troops and aircraft to fight fires under a single commander within the National Guard.

“Too often the response to fires is wrapped up in red tape, with each military branch reporting to a different commander,” said Governor Brown. “When fires are burning, every second counts. By unifying the command, this agreement will allow us to fight fires, not bureaucracy.”

When California National Guard troops resp...