As Service Members Respond to the Wildfires in California, the USO is Right by Their Side

By Danielle DeSimone and Gabriella Coyle

The wildfires in Southern California have been devastating. Fueled by powerful winds and dry brush conditions, these destructive fires continue to move through Southern California, including heavily populated areas of Los Angeles County.

Thousands of homes, schools and businesses have been destroyed, or are under evacuation warnings and at least 27 people have die. It has been described as one of the deadliest fires in California’s history – and the threat is ongoing.

Along with local firefighters and first responders, thousands of National Guard members and active-duty members of other military branches have been activated to respond to these wildfires raging through LA. As these brave service members battle the blazes, the USO has stepped up to support them.

The U.S. Military’s Response to the California Wildfires

The California National Guard was quickly activated following the onset of the fires, and neighboring states answered the call as well. As of January 14, 2025 there are approximately 2,500 California, Nevada and Wyoming Guard members, as well as a Colorado U.S. Air Force Reserve unit, assisting California state and local firefighting teams. Both the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard are contributing efforts to the state’s firefighting and emergency response plans as these fires continue to surround the greater Los Angeles County.

In fact, over one weekend, the Air National Guard carried out six missions that dropped more than 16,000 gallons of fire suppressant on the area – with more missions on the way.

The Department of Defense also activated 500 active-duty Marines and placed aircraft and firefighting equipment on standby to assist in the efforts, including 10 U.S. Navy helicopters equipped with water delivery buckets.

In addition to assisting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the U.S. Forest Service, in firefighting efforts, the National Guard is also assisting local law enforcement and emergency response teams in affected areas.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Sergio Soto with the California National Guard, 1-18th Cavalry Regiment, and his unit have largely been working in support of local civil authorities to secure and maintain the safety of evacuated areas affected by the Eaton Fire. Their main objective is to protect the public from electrical, gas and toxic hazards in burned areas, as well as to protect buildings from looters.

“The teamwork out there is amazing. Not only does the community come together, but also the different agencies,” Lt. Col. Soto said, explaining that he and his unit have been working closely with local law enforcement to carry out their mission.

According to the lieutenant colonel, compared to other missions they have been activated for, responding to these wildfires “is a little more difficult because it’s an emergency and we need to move fast.” This mission can be emotionally taxing as well.

“We’ve had young soldiers seeing people come up to their checkpoints and telling them that their house has burned down. And it’s a little bit tough for them, but they’re just glad that they’re helping in some way,” Lt. Col. Soto said. “They comfort [the residents] and they listen to their stories, they make friends and they just listen. They’ve become good listeners and try to console them. And I think that’s the hard part of this mission. It’s very sad, what happened.”

For many of these California Guard members, the destruction of these neighborhoods can be personal. Since many Guard members serve in the states where they live, they are members of the very communities that have been affected by these wildfires. When they received orders to report for firefighting missions, they had to leave their loved ones and their homes behind, and witnessing the damage of your own hometown or state can take a significant emotional toll on the people responding to natural disasters.

“We had two soldiers that were evacuated … we had several soldiers that were close to an evacuation zone, although nothing that burned down. But a lot of our soldiers here, they live in Azusa or along the foothills all over LA. So, I feel that we all feel that this is our community,” Lt. Col. Soto said. “I personally know people that were impacted by this in Altadena, and it’s tough. We pray for them and we offer our support, but being able to do this in uniform, I think it’s very rewarding for us to be here.”

As service members continue to work around-the-clock in dangerous conditions in order to assist in fighting these wildfires and protecting local communities, they themselves need support as well. And that’s where the USO comes in.

The USO Supports the National Guard Members Responding to the California Wildfires

As soon as the National Guard was activated, the USO deployed as well.

Locally-based USO staff members from Palm Springs and San Diego immediately began driving across counties with truck loads of beverages, snacks and toiletries.

Our Mobile USO team, in coordination with military leadership, then also moved into the region to stage support in nearby areas for the service members deployed in fighting these wildfires.

Acting as “USO Centers-on-wheels,” the Mobile USO vehicles and the teams that operate them provide service members with a moment of respite after long days working in the wake of the wildfires. In addition to offering classic USO amenities like Wi-Fi and device charging stations, Mobile USO vehicles are also stocked with snacks and drinks to keep service members properly fueled and hydrated so they can stay sharp during their missions.

Service members responding to the wildfires have requested essential items like lip balm, sunscreen, water bottles and electrolyte packets to stay hydrated and protected from the elements, as well as snacks that are easy to take on the go – including jerky, power bars and more. The Mobile USO vehicles deployed to California have also distributed USO Care Package hygiene kits, which include basic toiletry items, as well as hot meals.

“There isn’t a soldier out there who has had to open up an MRE,” Lt. Col. Soto joked, highlighting how the USO’s refreshments and hot meals stand out in an environment where non-perishable government rations (MREs) are standard fare.

At first glance, these resources might seem like a small reprieve in light of the immense work required in the midst of the fires. However, having small moments of respite play a vital role in maintaining service members’ operational readiness and well-being as they prepare to head back out into dangerous areas where there are limited resources.

Lt. Col. Soto explained that for the service members based out of the Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot, which has temporarily been transformed into an emergency response command center for several agencies, having the USO there to support them specifically was extremely beneficial. On a traditional deployment, these service members might turn to base housing or their base dining facility for a place to rest and fuel up – but here, given the nature of the mission, these service members must rely on the support of the USO and the local community.

For example, Lt. Col. explained that the trailers service members sleeping in aren’t exactly comfortable – “they’re kind of cramped up in there like sardines,” he said. So, during their downtime between shifts, they visit the Mobile USO, which offers a much-needed space to relax and recharge.

“The USO gives them a spot to kind of hang out and spend time where they’re comfortable and spend time with their fellow soldiers, and it’s very valuable.”

Having something as seemingly simple as Wi-Fi and a charging port for your phone can make all the difference for a service member who is trying to keep loved ones back home updated on their safety. Lt. Col. Soto explained that balancing the mission and staying in touch with loved ones can be difficult, but he makes sure to call his wife each night, and is in regular communication with his sons and his father.

“You do have to kind of step back and think about your family and just continue to update them. Because at the same time, they get a little worried about you, and you want to make sure that they know you’re okay.”

Having the support of the USO throughout this kind of mission can be essential for the people serving in the military. Despite the tough conditions, Lt. Col. Soto reported that the kindness and generosity of nonprofits like the USO, as well as the surrounding community, have been crucial in maintaining morale among service members.

“It can wear on people … soldiers are going above and beyond, working on their days off because they want to be out there … They’re working long days, 12-hour days, but their morale is 110%. I’ve never been even on a deployment where a unit is working that long of hours where the morale is that good,” Lt. Col. Soto said.

“I think it’s very special to have that support from our community. We often think, ‘Well, we’re just doing our job. And that’s what I signed up for.’ And we like to do what we do. Having that extra support just makes you feel a lot more grateful. We’re grateful for the country, and that’s the reason we do what we do. But to have the support just makes it more special.”

So far, the two Mobile USO vehicles deployed to the greater Los Angeles County area have supported several hundreds of service members, and several of the USO’s corporate partners – including Guardian Jet Center, Kroger, Lowe’s Home Improvement, RTX and Stater Bros. Markets – have been contributing supplies and support directly to the USO for distribution to these hardworking service members.

“It’s overwhelming the amount of support you guys [have given] us, and it’s very impactful on our soldiers,” Lt. Col. Soto said. “Morale is as highest I’ve ever seen in my career, probably, and part of that is just the tremendous support we get from the USO and our community.”

The USO’s mission is to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military, and their families. As members of the military continue to battle these devastating fires, risking their lives to protect civilians and their communities, they will need all the strength they can get to stay resilient.

That is why the USO is always there alongside our service members and their families – wherever their mission takes them.