04.09.2024
Story by Joseph Siemandel
Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National Guard
In early April, the Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army concluded their third and most hands-on wildfire exchange in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
“The wildfire subject matter expert exchange has created a unique opportunity to not only bring together and share information between the Washington National Guard and the Royal Thai Army but also collaborate with the Thai Royal Forestry Division (RFD) and the WA Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the lead agencies for wildfires and forest management in Northern Thailand and Washington State, respectively,” said Col. Amanda Doyle, lead for the wildfire exchange.
Washington state wildfire seasons range from routine to truly historic with an average of more than 240,000 acres burned each year. Wildfire seasons in the Kingdom of Thailand have become more common in the past decade. The peak fire season typically begins in early February and lasts around 13 weeks, ravaging much of the country, including the agriculturally based northern provinces. This common threat is the reason the Washington National Guard and Royal Thai Army brought the idea forward.
“Under the umbrella of the State Partnership Program, the Washington National Guard has continued to develop and refine the concept for the wildfire exchange with the Thai Directorate of Civil Affairs,” said Doyle.
In 2022 the exchange included a virtual fire management, air quality concerns, and public information component, with the opportunity to have RFD experts and DNR specialists discuss wildfire topics relevant to both teams. Last year a group of Washington National Guard members traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a weeklong in-person exchange. The team of experienced Washington National Guard wildland firefighters met with Royal Thai Army Area Three counterparts, as well as the Royal Forestry Department, to discuss firefighting tools and resources available and share best practices for firefighting hand crew organization, tasks and medical evacuation.
“The Guard team for this exchange includes individuals with joint planning and operations experience, focusing on the Washington National Guard strategic approach to wildland firefighting and other domestic response operations, as well as a number of experienced wildland firefighters and paramedics, with innate teaching and coaching abilities,” said Doyle.
This year’s exchange included techniques for employment of U.S. and RTA firefighting tools, to include Pulaskis, McLeods, combis, blowers and rakes. Participants discussed critical firefighting tactics, including hand crew organization and operation, building fire breaks, putting in hand lines, controlling spot fires, mop up operations, and safety and emergency protocols. The group also focused on operational control, management of fires and crews, and resourcing and logistical support.
“Participants in the wildfire exchange spent a day at the RFD firefighter training academy conducting hands-on training on controlled burns, effectively exercising tactics for fire control and fire suppression in a field environment,” said Doyle.
