Colo. National Guard members return to base after securing communities during Spring Fire

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer | U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Colorado National Guard members provide roving security patrols to assist with the enforcement of road closures July 4, 2018, through Huerfano County, Colorado. The Soldiers safeguarded travelers and protected homes threatened by the Spring fire. The team arrived 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 Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer) 

CENTENNIAL, CO, UNITED STATES
07.16.2018
Courtesy Story
Colorado National Guard 

The Spring Fire incident commander released the remaining 30 Colorado National Guard members, who helped local law enforcement protect residents and property and evacuate communities during the Spring Fire, one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history.

During the fire, nearly 100 Soldiers and Airmen provided traffic control points, evacuated-area escort, and roving patrols in Huerfano and Costilla counties.

“I’m proud of the professionalism of our security personnel,” Director of the Joint Staff U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory White, the commander of Joint Task Force – Centennial, said. “The state’s ability to use Colorado National Guard members to support local law enforcement in safeguarding our communities proved pivotal during this emergency.”

Participating units included the 193rd Military Police Battalion and 220th Military Police Company, both based in Denver, the 188th Forward Support Company, based in Pueblo, and the 140th Security Forces Squadron, based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora.

The first of the teams arrived July 2, 2018, and conducted security missions through July 11, with the follow-on teams serving from July 3-13. CONG members alleviated certain police and sheriff requirements so that civilian law enforcement personnel could focus on crime and higher level enforcement matters.

The Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office deputized CONG members assigned to military police and security force units July 4.

The CONG continue to support all the wildfires in Colorado by providing standby search and rescue capabilities to the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center through the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site in Gypsum, Colorado.

On order of the Governor, the standing Joint Task Force – Centennial, led by Brig. Gen. White, 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 CONG support to the Spring Fire, go to: https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/Springfire, www.Twitter.com/SpringFire2018, www.Facebook.com/SpringFire2018

For the Colorado National Guard, visit www.co.ng.mil, Twitter @CONG1860, or Facebook @CONG1860.
Also follow #SpringFire #SpringCreekFire and #cofire.

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – Lance Cpl. Erick

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – Lance Cpl. Erick Riverabroco poses for a photo July 16 at Ie Shima Training Facility. The Crash Fire Rescue Marines rushed to the aid of Ie Village Firefighters when they needed assistance extinguishing a farm fire. The Ie Village Mayor, Hideyuki Shimabukuro, personally thanked the Marines for their efforts at the farm. Johnson is a Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, native, is an aircraft rescues and firefighting specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. (Photo courtesy of 1st Lt. Christine Baldridge)

Coast Guard responds to downed aircraft in Crillon Lake, Alaska

A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew locates a downed aircraft inverted in Crillon Lake, in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, July 18, 2018. The National Park Service requested Coast Guard assistance in locating the pilot of the aircraft, who was found and hoisted from a Crillon Lakeshore with minor injuries. U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo.

NY Army Guard aircrews assist in July 13-16 forest fire fighting mission

A New York Army National Guard UH-60 assigned to 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, delivers 660 gallons of water onto a forest fire in Flat Rock State Forest in Altona, N.Y. on Friday, July, 13, 2018. Two UH-60 aircrews responded to a forest fire that broke out in Altona, N.Y., and spread across five hundred of acres, from July 13-15. Army Guard aircrews flew more missions in support of fire fighters on July 15. (N.Y. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Andrew Valenza)

ALTONA, NY, UNITED STATES
07.16.2018
Story by Eric Durr and Spc. Andrew Valenza
New York National Guard 

ALTONA, NY--New York Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, dropped more than 126,000 gallons of water on a 526 acre forest fire burning in Flat Rock State Forest on Friday July 13, Sunday July 15, and Monday, July 16.

The fire, located 10 miles south of the Canadian Border just outside New York’s Adirondack Park, began on Thursday, July 12.

Over 200 personnel—New York State Forest Rangers, Department of Environmental Conservation fire crews, and local volunteer fire departments-- have been part of the response. Crews from Quebec and Vermont have also responded, according to Clinton County emergency officials.
Smoke from the fire could be seen across Lake Champlain in Vermont, according to reports.

With temperatures in the 80s over the weekend the six hours or more in the air were fatiguing for the pilots and aircrew, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tom Brunschmid, one of the pilots.

The biggest challenge for the aircrews was coordinating with the New York State Forest Rangers on the grounds who were directing the water drops, Brunschmid said. Because the military radios in the UH-60 don’t match the frequencies of the radios used by the Rangers, the Blackhawk crews had to speak with the ground on hand-held radios, he explained.

New York State Police helicopters were initially called in to fight the fire. The New York State Police flies civilian versions of the UH-1 Huey helicopter and can deploy firefighting buckets which can drop 220 gallons of water.

On Friday, the New York Army National Guard was asked to put two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and eight aircrew on standby to assist if necessary at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 in Latham, N.Y. just outside of Albany. The UH-60s can deploy fire-fighting buckets, known as Bambi buckets, which can hold 660 gallons of water.

Those aircraft were deployed to the Plattsburgh area to support fire crews on Friday afternoon.

The two UH-60 helicopters flew 73 drop missions on Friday and delivered 48,180 gallons of water on the fire before returning to Latham after dark.

On Saturday, July 14 crews and helicopters were on standby, but fire officials did not call for their assistance.

On Sunday, July 15 the New York Army National Guard aircrews went into action again. The two UH-60s delivered 52,800 gallons of water on the fire in 80 drop missions.

Monday morning, July 16, two UH0-60 aircrews were back on standby again but did not expect to be used. On Monday afternoon, though firefighters called for help one more time and the aircraft flew north from Latham.

Two UH-60s dropped conducted 38 drops and delivered 25,080 gallons of water on the fire.

Each fully loaded Bambi bucket weights more than 5,400 pounds.

The helicopters used a lake two miles away from the fire site to fill the buckets, Brunschmid said.

Each day the aircrews had to stop and refuel three times, due to the amount of fuel used from transporting such heavy loads.
By Monday afternoon the fire was 65 percent contained.

Just in case they were needed New York Army National Guard aircrews were on standby again with two UH-60s to respond if required, on Monday, July 16.

Each spring a select number of pilots and crew chiefs train on using the Bambi buckets to pick up and dump water to prepare to fight wildfires.
The pilots need the additional practice because a helicopter has a very different feel when it is carrying 5,400 pounds of water underneath it.
According to Staff Sgt. Jimmy Rose, a crew chief, the Soldiers like doing these kinds of missions.

“Reacting to state emergencies are the best types of missions,” Rose said, “You’re working for the people of New York State, and when you’re doing your job, that’s who I prefer to do it for.”

Washington National Guard soldiers save a child’s life, receive thanks from the family.

Pvt. Gracie Hilinski, Medical Section, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team poses with (from left to right) Lilya Soulami, Ayoub Soulami, and Asmae Hram, little girl, and her family, whose life was saved by Hilinski, at a ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Olympia, Wash., June 30, 2018. Hilinski saved the girl by administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation when her medical team made happened upon the emergency during a routine fuel stop, on April 6, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Alec Dionne)