Colo. National Guard supporting Spring Fire response

LA VETA, CO, UNITED STATES
07.04.2018
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Dixie Manzanares
Colorado National Guard

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews with aircraft, equipped with aerial water buckets, from the Chief Warrant Officer 5 David R. Carter Army Aviation Support Facility based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, depart the Spring Fire helibase, in Fort Garland, Colo., to support fire suppression efforts July 3, 2018. The team arrived and began operations July 2.

The CONG has supported the Spring Fire since July 1, 2018, providing capabilities to include: security personnel for traffic control points and roving patrols; two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews and aircraft each equipped with aerial water buckets; geological information system operators; as well as, refueling crews with Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical refueling trucks and firefighters with HEMTT firefighting vehicles.

The CONG has been providing an aviation search and rescue standby capability in support of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center since July 1. The High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site facility in Gypsum, Colorado, is supporting the mission which is rapid response to aviation search and rescue missions, primarily for firefighter safety, in support of multiple wildfire responses throughout Colorado.

On order of the Governor, the standing Joint Task Force - Centennial commands and integrates CONG forces to support civil authorities in assisting Colorado, or supported states, during times of crisis and disaster, to save lives, prevent suffering, and mitigate great property damage.

(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Nicole Manzanares)

Arctic Thunder Open House 2018

AK, UNITED STATES
07.01.2018
Photo by Jamal Wilson
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs

Brad Hall, a Weapons Safety Technician with the 673d Air Base Wing, celebrates after a safe and successful pyrotechnics demonstration during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 1, 2018. During the biennial open house, JBER opens its gates to the public and hosts multiple performers including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, JBER Joint Forces Demonstration and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Jamal Wilson)

AK, UNITED STATES
07.01.2018
Photo by Jamal Wilson
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs

Pyrotechnics forming a wall of fire accompany the Joint Forces Demonstration during the Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 1, 2018. During the biennial open house, JBER opens its gates to the public and hosts multiple performers including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, JBER Joint Forces Demonstration and the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Jamal Wilson)

Colo. National Guard supporting Spring Fire response

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer | (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Maj. Darin Overstreet) 

GARDNER, CO, UNITED STATES
07.03.2018
Story by Tech. Sgt. Dixie Manzanares
Colorado National Guard

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of the Governor, 32 Colorado National Guard members assisted the Spring Fire incident commander with traffic control points in Costilla County beginning July 1, 2018.

With the addition of 32 members requested for arrival July 3, there will be more than 50 Colorado Army National Guard members and 10 Colorado Air National Guard members supporting security throughout the affected area.

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and crews, equipped with aerial water buckets, from the Chief Warrant Officer 5 David R. Carter Army Aviation Support Facility based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, arrived at or around 2 p.m., July 2, and are expected to conduct firefighting operations following reception and a flight briefing.

“We are here to help our neighbors in Huerfano and Costilla County to save lives, prevent suffering and mitigate great property damage,” Director of the Joint Staff U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory White said.

The CONG has been providing an aviation search and rescue standby capability in support of the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center since July 1. The High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site facility in Gypsum, Colorado, is supporting the mission which is rapid response to aviation search and rescue missions, primarily for firefighter safety, in support of multiple wildfire responses throughout Colorado.

On order of the Governor, the standing Joint Task Force - Centennial commands and integrates CONG forces to support civil authorities in assisting Colorado, or supported states, during times of crisis and disaster, to save lives, prevent suffering, and mitigate great property damage.

For information about the:
Spring Fire, go to www.Twitter.com/SpringFire2018, www.Facebook.com/SpringFire2018, or 719-695-9604 (East side only)

Colorado National Guard, visit www.co.ng.mil, Twitter @CONG1860, or Facebook @CONG1860.

Also follow #SpringFire #SpringCreekFire and #cofire.

CONG Current News Releases:
https://co.ng.mil/SitePages/cong.aspx

File photos:
Colorado National Guard firefighting: http://bit.ly/1bvVyfb
High-altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site: http://bit.ly/19uP4k9

File video:
National Guard firefighting: http://bit.ly/KZQeZI

B-roll:
Bambi-Bucket® drops, Black Forest fire: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/293469/black-forest-fire
Bambi-Bucket® drops, High Park fire: http://bit.ly/17H61HJ

Nevada Air National Guard requested for Colorado firefighting effort

A 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, C-130 aircraft sits on the flight line July 5, 2018 moments before leaving Reno for Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado to assist federal agencies there with several fires burning in the Centennial State.

RENO, NV, UNITED STATES
07.05.2018
Story by 2nd Lt. Emerson Marcus
152 Airlift Wing/Public Affairs

The National Interagency Fire Center has requested one C-130 aircraft and aircrew from the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, to aid firefighting efforts in Colorado.

The aircraft, operating the USDA Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, departed Reno this morning for its initial deployment location at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

The 152nd Airlift Wing, known as the "High Rollers," is one of four military C-130 units around the nation equipped with MAFFS for largescale wildland firefighting.

The Reno unit will join two other military units in Colorado: the 302nd Airlift Wing, U.S. Air Force Reserve, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard.

The initial request lasts through July 12.

About a half dozen large wildfires have ravaged areas around the Centennial State this summer and burned more than 100 homes. The 152nd Airlift Wing, along with other MAFFS crew, could potentially be called for any of these fires.

"The High Rollers always stand ready to answer the call for federal firefighting missions," said Lt. Col. Steve Mills, 192nd Airlift Squadron commander and pilot with the 152nd Airlift Wing. "We've read in the news about the devastation from the fires in Colorado and we're prepared to do anything we're asked to do to help fight the fires."

MAFFS equipment, loaded into the cargo compartment of a C-130 aircraft, can drop up to 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in six seconds through a nozzle on the rear left side of the plane. The U.S. Forest Service owns MAFFS equipment and supplies retardant, while each of the four military units provide C-130 aircraft, maintenance, support personnel and flight crews to fly the missions.

Given the military’s non-compete clause with private industry, private air tankers receive first request for largescale, wildland firefighting. Military units have provided the surge capacity with MAFFS since 1974, but are only activated after private contractor assets are exhausted and the forest service deems additional support is necessary.

The 152nd Airlift Wing was named the newest MAFFS unit in 2016, replacing the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard. Since 2016, 152nd Airlift Wing aircrew have worked and trained with other MAFFS units in order to gain certification for wildland firefighting. This summer could mark the first autonomous firefighting missions for the unit without assistance from other units since it entered the MAFFS community two years ago.

#IamSCHRIEVER Portraits - 4th of July

Stephen Hardman, firefighter with the Schriever fire department. "IamSCHRIEVER Portraits” feature photos and interviews of Team Schriever members and aim to engage community members and share their stories and experiences with all of Team Schriever. The intent is to increase awareness, appreciation and engagement of diversity within the force and enable more open, honest and respectful communication throughout base. If you are interested in sharing your stories, call the 50th Space Wing Public Affairs office at 719-567-5040.

Mark Crane, firefighter with the Schriever fire Department. "IamSCHRIEVER Portraits” feature photos and interviews of Team Schriever members and aim to engage community members and share their stories and experiences with all of Team Schriever. The intent is to increase awareness, appreciation and engagement of diversity within the force and enable more open, honest and respectful communication throughout base. If you are interested in sharing your stories, call the 50th Space Wing Public Affairs office at 719-567-5040.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

06.26.2018

Photo by Kathryn Calvert 

50th Space Wing Public Affairs