With dozens of intense wildfires burning all at once across California and the West, an intricate game of chess is underway to maneuver firefighters and equipment where they're most needed.

The park fire, which is blazing through Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties, has already consumed about 428,000 acres and now is the fourth largest ever in California.

As Cal Fire crews wrestle with long shifts, stressful conditions, sizzling heat waves, and budget constraints, California's in-state mutual aid system has been activated.

In addition, crews from across the country and even Australia, New Zealand, are on their way, critical to ensuring there's enough firefig.. to battle California's ever more intense blazes.

According to Chris Hardy, Cal Fire's Deputy Chief of Command and Control, a robust contingent of federal fire crews are deployed on California fires, including from the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Hand crews from the California Conservation Corps and the National Guard are also working firelines.

The State Office of Emergency Services has assigned hundreds of engines from local jurisdictions to join the fight.

Outside of California, help is coming from all points of the compass.

Texas, Utah, Nevada, North Dakota have sent fire engines, and a cadre of fire supervisors from Florida, Arkansas, Oregon, and New York City are working California fires.

Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler said during a news conference, “Some people might ask, 'Are there enough resources in California?'

A fire chief's standard response is, 'Yes, but we could use more.

'” So far, California is getting the help it needs.

Still, with nearly 5,000 fires in the state so far this year, and more sparking every day, the limits of mutual aid are being tested.

With CalMatters, I'm Julie Cart.