10/22/2007 GAAS:838:07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Requests Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems to Assist in Fighting Southern California Fires
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today sent the following letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates requesting all available Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems be directed to assist in fighting the fires in Southern California.
October 22, 2007
The Honorable Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
1400 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-1400
Dear Mr. Secretary,
I am writing to request your assistance with the delivery of all available Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) to assist California in our fight against the fires raging in Southern California. The proliferation in the number of fires that have engulfed Southern California requires the immediate use of all available MAFFS to assist in this emergency.
Your immediate assistance is necessary to deploy Department of Defense aircraft located in Wyoming, North Carolina and Colorado to assist California in our firefighting effort. At this time, we have had to evacuate more than 250,000 residents from their homes in the San Diego and Malibu areas. These fires have also scorched thousands of acres in both mountainous and urban areas across Southern California, with many structures burned and thousands more at risk.
It is only with the full support and assistance of your office that we can bring these fires under control and protect Californians from even more despair and destruction.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
