Tyndall AFB Holds First Prescribed Burn Since Michael

Photo By Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum | A UTV patrols the 600 acre area of prescribed fire set by Air Force Civil Engineer Center Fire Management on Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, July 19, 2019. The prescribed fire was used to clear blowdown left over from Hurricane Michael and reduce the amount of available fuels for potential wildfires. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum) 

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE , FL, UNITED STATES
07.24.2019
Story by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --
The first prescribed fire since Hurricane Michael took place on area of the base adjacent to Silver Flag training site here, July 19, 2019.

Air Force Civil Engineer Center Fire Management set ablaze 600 acres of uninhabited forest ‘blowdown’ that was devastated by the category five hurricane. As the name implies, blowdown is the debris left over in the forested area by the hurricane.

Prescribed fires are necessary in order to remove the blowdown from the storm and limit the amount of fuels available for wildfires, according to Dale Pfau, U.S. Air Force east regional fire management officer.

Started by a helicopter dropping small igniters into the designated area, the fire is 100 percent contained by members patrolling the area.

“With a prescribed fire there’s a lot of planning and effort that goes into putting it together,” said Pfau. “We get to dictate how the fire burns as opposed to it telling us what it wants to do.”

As with any fire, a level of danger is present and AFCEC has provided safeguards to keep the fire contained to their specifications.

“We have people on the ground, including fire engines and UTVs, patrolling the lines making sure that the fire stays within the unit we want,” said Pfau. “If we do get something outside of that unit, we have people who can extinguish that pretty quickly.”

This first of multiple prescribed burns was planned in order to clear leftover blowdown from the category five hurricane.

Once the burned remains are removed, the Air Force plans on replanting the area on Tyndall AFB, said Pfau.

Dale Pfau, U.S. Air Force east regional fire management officer, uses a radio to communicate with the helicopter starting the prescribed fire from above at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, July 19, 2019. This is the first prescribed fire since the category five hurricane devastated the 29 thousand acres of forest on Tyndall AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum)

A helicopter flies over and ignites a prescribed fire across a 600-acre area of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, July 19, 2019. The helicopter dropped ping pong ball sized igniters over the entire area to start the prescribed fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum)

Latvian firefighters train with U.S. counterparts during Northern Strike 19

ALPENA, MI, UNITED STATES
07.22.2019
Photo by Capt. Benjamin Hughes
175th WG - Maryland Air National Guard

Latvian Air Force firefighter Ilze Jansone prepares to train with a U.S. Air Force self-contained breathing apparatus during Northern Strike 19 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich., July 22, 2019. Northern Strike 19 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting service members from more than 20 states, multiple service branches and numerous coalition countries during the last two weeks of July 2019 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The accredited Joint National Training Capability exercise demonstrates the Michigan National Guard’s ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Benjamin Hughes)


Latvian Air Force firefighter Ritvars Šteins stands in front of a P-23 Crash truck, an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle, during Northern Strike 19 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich., July 22, 2019. Northern Strike 19 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting service members from more than 20 states, multiple service branches and numerous coalition countries during the last two weeks of July 2019 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The accredited Joint National Training Capability exercise demonstrates the Michigan National Guard’s ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Benjamin Hughes)


Michigan State employee firefighter Jeremy Lafeldt (right) shows Estonian Air Force firefighter Sgt. Karl-Henrich Rohtaas the capabilities of the P-19R Striker Crash truck, an aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle, during Northern Strike 19 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich., July 22, 2019. Northern Strike 19 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting service members from more than 20 states, multiple service branches and numerous coalition countries during the last two weeks of July 2019 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The accredited Joint National Training Capability exercise demonstrates the Michigan National Guard’s ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Benjamin Hughes)


U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. James Atchison, a firefighter with the 180th Civil Engineering Squadron, shows Latvian Air Force firefighter Ilze Jansone how to use a U.S. Air Force self-contained breathing apparatus during Northern Strike 19 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich., July 22, 2019. Northern Strike 19 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting service members from more than 20 states, multiple service branches and numerous coalition countries during the last two weeks of July 2019 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The accredited Joint National Training Capability exercise demonstrates the Michigan National Guard’s ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Benjamin Hughes)

National Guard rescue team evacuates 26 people from Rainy Pass Lodge

Twenty-six people and two dogs were evacuated overnight from an Alaskan hunting and recreation lodge after a rapid-spreading wildfire threatened the area, approximately 125 air miles from Anchorage, July 23, 2019. An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th Rescue Squadron and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter from the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, evacuated the individuals and transported them to safety at JBER. This was the first rescue mission accomplished by the Chinooks since they joined the 1-207th last December. (Courtesy photo)

ANCHORAGE, AK, UNITED STATES
07.24.2019
Story by Lt. Col. Candis Olmstead
Alaska National Guard Public Affairs 

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Members of the Alaska National Guard assisted in the evacuation of Rainy Pass Lodge overnight as a wildfire from a lightning strike two miles away spread toward the lodge where youth were attending a summer adventure camp.

The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center was made aware of the fire and notified appropriate authorities, coordinating with Rainy Pass Lodge, Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Division of Forestry, Palmer Fire and Rescue and Clearwater Air.

An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the Air National Guard, with two pararescuemen on board, provided assistance to local authorities, evacuating 26 people and two dogs to safety in Skwentna.

Skwentna is a small community of about 50 people, about 73 air miles northwest of Anchorage, and requires travel by air or boat.

An Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter, with three Air Guard pararescuemen, transported the individuals from Skwentna to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The Pave Hawks that responded are from the Air Guard’s 210th Rescue Squadron, which supports an alert mission around-the-clock, year-round. They were able to quickly get to the lodge once it was determined that evacuation was necessary.

“Our priority was to get the people to safety as rapidly as possible, so we started with women and children and loaded up the Pave Hawk, then transported them to Skwentna,” said Lt. Col. Keenan Zerkel, director of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. “Then we went back for the rest of the people on the second trip.”

The RCC coordinated for the Chinook to fly directly to Skwenta, where all of the evacuees were loaded into the tandem-rotor, heavy-lift helicopter, which can transport up to 44 passengers.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Mark Ward, the Chinook pilot on the mission, this was the first rescue that Army Guard Chinooks have accomplished since they arrived, new to the unit this year.

“It was great to be able to help these people; it made my day,” said Ward. “I’ve been in the unit 29 years and this was a highlight.”

Reserve Citizen Airmen showcase at one of the nation’s biggest air shows

Photo By Senior Airman Anthony Pham | A 302nd Airlift Wing Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System equipped-C-130 Hercules aircraft performs a system test at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, July 22, 2019. Aircrew will be demonstrating the MAFFS at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin July 23-28. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Anthony Pham) 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES
07.24.2019
Story by Tech. Sgt. Frank J Casciotta
302nd Airlift Wing/Public Affairs 

Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 302nd Airlift Wing arrived at one of the nation’s biggest air shows today to showcase the wing’s special aerial firefighting mission.

A six-member aircrew, supported by two maintenance technicians, will perform daily demonstrations of the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin, July 23-28.

Lt. Col. Bradley Ross, the 302nd AW’s MAFFS operations chief, says the air show provides an opportunity for communities outside the local area to see what a MAFFS drop looks like first hand and get a better understanding of what the mission is.

The MAFFS mission is a joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense to suppress wildland fires. The 302nd AW is the only Air Force Reserve unit tasked with this special mission. There are also three Air National Guard wings that share this mission: Nevada's 152nd Airlift Wing, California's 146th Airlift Wing and Wyoming's 153rd Airlift Wing.

The MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system, owned by the U.S. Forest Service, which can discharge up to 3,000 gallons of fire retardant in less than 10 seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long and 100 feet wide. The system can then be reloaded in less than 12 minutes on the ground.

Old fire station on Otis Air National Guard Base demolished

CAPE COD, MA, UNITED STATES
07.24.2019
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Swanson
102nd Intelligence Wing   

Building 122 in the process of being demolished on July 24, 2019, at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.

The building was occupied by the Otis Fire Department from it's construction in the 1950s until 2007 when it was replaced by a larger nearby facility, the Otis Fire Crash and Rescue Station.

After the 102nd Fighter Wing changed it's mission and became the 102nd Intelligence Wing, the Otis Fire Crash and Rescue Station was transferred from federal to state authorities and is the current home of the Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department.

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Swanson

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Swanson

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Photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Swanson

Photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas Swanson