At the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), mutual aid is the backbone of quick and efficient response during emergencies. Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), California welcomes:
- 25 engines and 94 personnel from Washington
- 10 engines and 40 personnel from Utah
- 1 engine and 3 personnel from North Dakota
The EMAC allows states to send personnel, equipment and commodities to assist with response and recovery efforts to other states.
The incoming aid bolsters firefighting resources deployed through state and local agencies, including CAL FIRE, California National Guard and Cal OES personnel and equipment.
The EMAC system includes all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
This deployment builds on California’s continued efforts to aid other states during emergencies. In June this year, Governor Newsom sent fire and rescue personnel to New Mexico to assist with the South Fore and Salt Fires. Last year, California deployed Urban Search and Rescue members to Hawaii to support wildfire response. In 2022, California deployed firefighters, disaster recovery experts and other personnel to Oregon, New Mexico and Montana.
For more on EMAC, visit emacweb.org.