SAN DIEGO -- Unhappy with state firefighters reluctance to use available military helicopters to fight the fires blazing across San Diego County, a trio of U.S. Congressmen announced late Tuesday night they had arranged a deal to get them into the air.

U.S. Representatives Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon; Darrell Issa, R-Vista; and Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, said they had reached an agreement with the head of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection that could get 19 military helicopters off tarmacs and fighting blazes by today.

State fire officials had said previously that they could only use military aircraft if they were carrying trained state fire "spotters" to oversee fire operations in every aircraft. With forces spread thin by the current disaster, spotters haven't been available and military aircraft had not joined the firefight.

Hunter, Issa and Bilbray -- along with County Supervisor Ron Roberts at the county's emergency operations center -- said at a 10:50 p.m. press conference that they had a "firm but fair" discussion with Ruben Grijalva, director of the state fire department.

Hunter said that Grijalva agreed to waive the spotter requirement and allow military fire crews to fly alone as long as the Marine Corps send him a letter officially requesting him to do so.

The congressman said that letter was on its way and the aircraft would be dropping fire retardant or water on flames today.

"After a brisk discussion, he agreed that if the Marine Corps would ask for the waiver, he would allow it," Bilbray said.

Unhappiness over the inability to get military aircraft and fire crews to help fight local fires dates back to San Diego County's last major blaze -- the 2003 wildfires that killed 16 people and destroyed more than 2,500 homes.

Hunter and other local congressional representatives complained bitterly then that the state was refusing to use military help, and vowed to make changes.

However, the congressman said Tuesday night that there had still been problems getting all available military aircraft to help, and decided to call state officials personally.

Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.