The national Preparedness Level increased to Level 5 today, the highest level. The criteria for this includes
Geographic Areas are experiencing major incidents which have the potential to exhaust all agency fire resources. 80 percent of Type 1 and 2 IMTs and crews are committed, as well as the majority of other national resources.
This means national fire leaders may assess the need for seeking international or military assistance. The National Multiagency Coordinating (MAC) Group gave the geographic MAC groups quotas for the number of Military Crew Advisors (MCAD) and Military Strike Team Leaders (STLM) they they must send to Boise by July 3. They are requesting a total of 26 MCADs and 6 STLMs for 30-33 day assignments. So, one would have to assume they are activating some military hand crews.