BLM Thanks JBLM Soldiers For Help With Dixie Fire

LAKEWOOD, WA — The Bureau of Land Management is thanking hundreds of Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers for their assistance with the Dixie Fire in California late last month.

The BLM confirms the roughly 200 soldiers were relieved of duty on September 30. They had been mobilized to help contain the Dixie Fire burning in Plumas National Forest in Northern California. The blaze burned over 963,309 acres and, as of Sunday, is about 94 percent contained. Crews estimate they will have the blaze fully contained by the end of October.

The soldiers assisted with containment efforts for about a month: they joined the fight back on Aug. 31, KING 5 reported.

JBLM's soldiers made of a significant contingent of the fire response: now that they've been recalled, just over 1,700 personnel remain on scene to continue tending the blaze.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the incident marks the 40th time since 1987 that active-duty military members have been called upon to serve as wildland firefighters.