Colorado Guard Continues Efforts in Wildfire Battle

Colorado Guard Continues Efforts in Wildfire Battle

From a Colorado National Guard News Release

CENTENNIAL, Colo., June 26, 2013 - More than 225 Colorado National Guard soldiers and airmen are continuing support to incident commanders at fires throughout the state.

Army Sgt. Nicholas Parrott of the Colorado Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, prepares a Bambi Bucket system to drop water on a wildfire in Colorado, June 21, 2013. U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Darin Overstreet (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, each outfitted with a hoist, are on standby for medical evacuation and search-and-rescue operations.

For the West Fork Complex Fire, the Colorado Army National Guard and Air National Guard are providing the following support:

-- 14 soldiers of the 1157th Engineer Firefighting Company, along with their high-capacity off-road firefighting trucks and water tenders;

-- Soldiers and airmen manning checkpoints in support of local law enforcement agencies;

-- Airmen providing phone, Internet and radio communications platforms to facilitate communications between civil and military authorities; and

-- Soldiers providing geographic imaging support to the incident commander.

For the East Peak Fire:

-- Soldiers are manning multiple checkpoints around the fire area in support of the Huerfano County Sheriff.

-- 15 soldiers are providing firefighting support on wildland fire hand-crew teams; and

-- Airmen are providing phone, Internet and radio communications platforms to facilitate communications between civil and military authorities.Also, the Colorado Guard is providing tents for nongovernmental organizations supporting relief and recovery efforts at the Black Forest Fire.

Colorado National Guard helicopters and crews performing bucket drops ended their mission yesterday after having dropped more than 131,000 gallons of water on the East Peak fire.