Army sending 200 soldiers to help fight Western wildfires

The Army is sending 200 active-duty soldiers to help battle wildfires in the Western U.S.

The National Interagency Fire Center said Monday the soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, will get three days of training starting on Thursday and will all be deployed to the same fire. The fire hasn’t been chosen.

The fire center requested the soldiers from the Defense Department, which agreed to send them.

• Twin wildfires Lake, Mendocino counties threaten 9,000 buildings

More than 127 wildfires are burning in 11 Western states, taxing civilian resources. At least three states have mobilized National Guard troops to help, and five military aircraft are assisting.

The fire center says active-duty personnel have been mobilized to help firefighters 37 times since 1987, most recently in September.

WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON:

• INTERACTIVE MAP: FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE WILDFIRES ACROSS CALIFORNIA

• LOW PAY FOR BART POLICE OFFICERS IMPACTS PUBLIC SAFETY

• POLICE RAID UNCOVERS DRUGS, UNLICENSED MILL VALLEY DAYCARE

• WOMAN CLAIMS SHE WAS TOSSED FROM MALL DUE TO SHORT SHORTS

• TEEN SUFFERS BRAIN INJURY ATTEMPTING ‘IN MY FEELINGS’ CHALLENGE

>>MORE STORIES