Does the National Guard fight forest fires?

Not generally, but if the situation warrants more assistance then is available from the regualr route, they could be pressed in to service. Realize that the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, state prisons, state forestry, and local agencies all have firefighters for wild land training. read more

The National Guard is not trained to fight forest fires. However, they could be activated to provide security and help evacuate areas near forest fires. The organization that supplies and organizes fire fighters to fight forest fires is the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. read more

- The North Carolina Air National Guard will deploy four C-130 cargo aircraft, flight crews and support personnel to Port Hueneme/Channel Islands, California, to assist the U.S. Forest Service in firefighting efforts to contain, control, and extinguish wild fires. read more

California Army Guard helicopter crews and California Air Guard airtanker crews are working in coordination with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CAL FIRE, and U.S. Forest Service firefighting crews to battle the American, Swedes and Rim fires. read more