WASHINGTON (KCBS/AP) -- Embattled California firefighters are getting more reinforcements from the National Guard, and from other countries. Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered 2,000 National Guard troops to join the fire fight. Australia, Canada, Greece, Mexico and New Zealand are also sending firefighters and equipment.
About 400 guardsmen were called in earlier this month, and more than half of them already are on the fire lines.
The governor's office says this has been the first time in more than 30 years that the National Guard has been deployed for ground-based firefighting.
The deployment comes during an unprecedented fire season that has seen the most fires burning at any one time in recorded California history. Most of the blazes began during a massive June 21 lightning storm.
Schwarzenegger says the additional troops will be trained and deployed over the next few months.
Meanwhile, at least one person is dead after a wildfire swept through an area near the Northern California town of Concow.
State fire officials confirmed the death, but did not provide any details. They say the person was not a firefighter. The body was burned beyond recognition and is currently being identified by coroners.
It was not immediately clear if the fatality occurred during Friday's fire activity.
Officials have lifted some of the evacuation orders for residents in Butte County where thousands of firefighters are battling fires that have now charred 49,000 acres.
"We were able to fly through Feather River Canyon, and fire fighting helicopters were able to do a few water drops on the east side of the canyon. The town of Paradise is on the West side of the canyon, and that allowed us to gain enough ground on it that we actually lifted some of the evacuations in the town last night," said CAL-Fire Captain Fred Orsborn.
He says 3,000 firefighters are on the lines Saturday, battling the blaze, which is now 50 percent contained. So far, 25 firefighters have been injured.
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The winds had not kicked up Saturday morning, which is something fire officials had feared.
"We're just hoping that the weather holds for us so we can continue to put the lines in that we need to hold the fire, and we can hopefully wrap this up in the next few days or so," said Orsborn.President George W. Bush planned a visit next week to survey the Golden State's wildfires, which have burned more than 1,100 square miles and destroyed about 100 homes.
However, while they'll be a big help, the firefighters coming to California may not know exactly how hard it can be to fight a California blaze.
"Firefighters from out of state are not used to battling wildfires that move as quickly as ours do," said CAL-Fire Unit Chief Henry Breshae. "They're also not usually in the type of terrain that we're in. They are typically in rolling hills or flat lands, but we're dealing with steep canyons, so their work production rate is not as high as a California firefighter's. I'm not saying anything bad about them, just that their experience level is not that of ours."
FEMA Sending California More Help
As dry conditions and hot weather show no sign of letting up, the Federal Emergency Management System is marshalling more resources to send to California in an effort to fight the wildfires burning in the state.
Several Bush cabinet members held a conference call with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein late yesterday to map out a new strategy plan and to assess the state’s needs.
Sen. Feinstein on receiving federal assistance
Eighty-percent of the federal firefighting force is already in California, according to White House officials.
Meanwhile, Feinstein announced efforts to pass a $910 million emergency spending bill for California. The money would be spent on firefighting in the state and elsewhere, but also would include funding for prevention, rehabilitation and recruiting new firefighters.
California's Other Wildfires
Wildfires across California have burned more than 1,100 square miles over the past three weeks.
Other fires burning around the state included:
_ A 53-square mile fire east of Bakersfield, which was 28 percent contained Thursday and not threatening any homes.
_ A 140-square mile blaze in Big Sur that has destroyed at least 27 homes and 31 other structures, and was 41 percent contained.
Authorities late Wednesday issued new mandatory evacuation orders for about 50 homes along a rugged road leading to the historic Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.
_ A 15-square mile fire in the Santa Ynez Mountains above the Santa Barbara County coast. It was 55 percent contained Thursday.
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