Maryland Guard supports search & rescue exercise with state and local first responders

Story by Maj. Benjamin Hughes May 6, 2026 at 03:15PM The Maryland National Guard (MDNG) supported a massive search and rescue exercise (SAREX) spanning 20 square miles of land and water, from the Loch Raven Reservoir Dam to Gunpowder Falls State Park, along with emergency responders from around the state, April 23, 2026. The MDNG Joint Staff coordinated the response of a CH-47 Chinook, two UH-60 Black Hawks with rescue-trained civilian firefighters of the Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Response Team (MD-HART), and two Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTVs) in support of civilian authorities during the exercise to enhance Maryland’s statewide preparedness, interagency coordination, and operational capabilities.<br /><a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/564560/maryland-guard-supports-search-rescue-exercise-with-state-and-local-first-responders"><img src="https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2605/9654149/250w_q95.jpg" width="250" alt="Maryland Guard supports search & rescue exercise with state and local first responders" /></a>

Low Visibility, No Hesitation: How Relentless Training Saved a Life

Story by Paul Lara May 6, 2026 at 12:45PM Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services, responding to a call from adjacent Fairfax County, in October, 2025, responded to a salvage yard fire, to discover a crane operator 50 feet overhead was overcome by smoke inhalation. Firefighters climbed the crane and transferred him to a waiting ladder. The teams were bestowed the Valor Award by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce in April, 2026.<br /><a href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/564525/low-visibility-no-hesitation-relentless-training-saved-life"><img src="https://d1ldvf68ux039x.cloudfront.net/thumbs/photos/2605/9665646/250w_q95.jpg" width="250" alt="Low Visibility, No Hesitation: How Relentless Training Saved a Life" /></a>

No Slack: A Decade of Raising the Bar

Story by Tech. Sgt. Gage Daniel April 30, 2026 at 11:29AM From April 6-10, 2026, Dobbins Air Reserve Base acted as host to some of the most intense firefighter rescue and survival training the Department of War has to offer.

Nevada National Guard ready to fight wildfires from the ground and air

Story by Sgt. Adrianne Lopez April 29, 2026 at 07:40PM The Nevada National Guard is prepared for wildfire season with trained ground crews and aerial firefighting assets, combining Soldiers certified as Type 2 wildland firefighters with Air National Guard MAFFS-equipped aircraft and Army aviation support, all proven during the 2024 Davis Fire response.

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz, German firefighters unite to battle autobahn brush fire

Story by Mary Del Rosario April 29, 2026 at 06:13AM U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz firefighters joined forces with German emergency responders April 26 to contain a large brush fire that threatened the A6/A63 autobahn interchange. German firefighters at the Kaiserslautern Main Dispatch Center issued a request for support, and the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services responded without delay.