The Washington State Governor's office is anticipating a record fire season, and additional help is needed. More than 3,000 Washington National Guard troops will be returning home from the War in Iraq this summer. On top of all this, however, is a group of military families that are pushing to bring every single National Guard soldier home. The organization, called Washington Military Families Speak Out (WMFSO) is the local branch of the larger MFSO that is working to bring National Guard troops home in other parts of the Northwest in coordination with the efforts to help with the fire season. According to their Web site, the members of the group have family members involved in Iraq, including ones that were part of the Ft. Lewis group that was attacked in December. Lietta Ruger, a senior member of the Pacific Northwest MFSO, says all of the National Guard is needed at home.

"We have National Guard activated to a point that is beyond normal, and we have needs at the state level," Ruger said. "The concerns go above and beyond politics."

The group has brought a resolution, which is available online, to the Governor's office with hopes to form a continuing conversation and a formation of a task force to help. The most important part of this process is citizen involvement Ruger said, and this is what the group is working toward at this time.

"We are optimistic and hopeful that the citizens will respond to the states needs," Ruger said. "It's not just a military family concern, it is a state voter constituency concern."

Steve Pierce, a member of the Governor's Communications Office, said Governor Gregoire is planning to bring 3,000 of the 3,600 currently deployed National Guard troops home to help with the fire season. The Governor understands the position of the families, but a full withdrawal is not possible, he said.

"The Governor is proud of the service of the brave men and women in the National Guard," Pierce said. "But we must recognize the need of the country."

There is a strong number of National Guard members here at WSU, said Charii Higgins, the Veteran's Affairs Administrator, and many have been active in current operations.

"There are quite a few students at WSU that have gone to Iraq, are in Iraq or will go to Iraq," Higgins said. "Those who have come back have all their fingers and toes, thankfully."

Higgins said it is up to the individual units of the National Guard and the governor to decide what the soldiers will do during the fire season. When asked about the families' resolution to bring all the troops home, the Veteran's Affairs Office declined to comment.

Brendon Kepner, the president of the College Republicans, sympathizes with the families, but says it is much more important that they stay in Iraq to help the spread of democracy.

"To withdraw like this wouldn't go well," Kepner said. "Those who are pushing aren't realizing the importance."

Ruger said that the resolution has been brought to the attention of Antonio Ginatta of the governor's policy advisory office. Since then, however, there as not been a formal comment.

Pierce said there will be no formal comment from the governor, except that she sympathizes with the families and understands their position.

Similar actions have been made in other states around the nation. The first movement to bring home National Guard troops occurred in a Vermont town hall meeting, Ruger said. Also, according to the WMFSO Web site, similar actions have been made in Oregon and Montana where the state will also bring home some of it's National Guard to help fight fires.

Ruger said the most important thing is to have an ongoing dialogue with the governor's office and to not turn this into a game of politics.

"We want to be supportive of Governor Gregoire," Ruger said.