In this edition of the Griz Cast, we cover more than 200 Airmen from across the state who came together from the California Air Guard to join the fight in extinguishing the blazes that threaten the Yosemite National Park in central California. We speak to Airmen about their training to become handcrew firefighters and how their military training and experience will help them perform this new mission.

In this video story, California National Guard Soldiers inprocess through McClellan Air Park before going out to fight the fires in California. These Soldiers receive classroom instruction on fire behavior, fire safety, and how to create fire containment lines. Additionally, they were given medical screenings to ensure their safety on the front lines.

California National Guard Soldiers and Airmen come together to battle flames throughout California. In this video, we highlight different aviation platforms the Air Guard brings to the fight. We also see Soldiers actively engaged in fighting wildfires as hand crews for the first time in more than 30 years.

With California facing a looming cash crisis and without a 2008-09 state budget, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order to make money available to cover the state's costs –excerpt from 31 July, Governor Schwarzenegger Press Release.