Pentagon sending assets to California to battle wildfires

The Defense Department is sending additional assets to California to assist with the massive wildfire spreading across Los Angeles and the southern part of the state.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Wednesday the U.S. was sending 10 Navy helicopters with water buckets.

Singh said the Pentagon is working closely with the California National Guard, which is adding two Modular Airborne FireFighting Systems.

The Nevada National Guard is also readying two more of those systems, which quickly discharge a retardant to battle fires.

"The president has directed this department to bolster whatever California needs," Singh said, but added that they are constrained in how much they can contribute at the moment. "We have to work with California, and right now we can't even get assets up in the air because the fires are so bad and because the winds are so bad."

Wildfires — the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, Hurst Fire, Tyler Fire and Woodley Fire — have burned thousands of acres in southern California.

Two people have been killed and several injured from the Eaton Fire spreading in Los Angeles County.

President Biden on Wednesday visited California and has met with state firefighters.