WARRENTON, Ore. – Wildfires killed 11 people and burned more than 1 million acres of land in Oregon during the 2020 wildfire season – all during a surge in the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 110 Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen completed initial wildland fire certification training at Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center June 21-25 to become "Red Card" certified to prepare for the current season.
In recent years the Department of Public Safety and Standards and Training in Salem conducted the training, but this year the training was held at Camp Rilea.
"In some ways, we had forgotten about coming here [Camp Rilea] and having the Oregon Military Department as a resource for this type of training," said Army Master Sgt. Chris Ross, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the training.
"We wanted to keep things organic to the National Guard and that everyone in our organization could be part of the training," he said.
The five days of training culminated in a live-fire field burn, replicating the type of work members would be called upon to do if activated for wildland fire support this summer.
"Everyone being trained this week is one of the last groups we have prepared for the season," Ross explained. "We'll have over 500 people ready to go if we get called up, so right now is just coordinating all the moving pieces – going from the classroom stage to the final hands-on live burn exercise before we send everybody home."
If the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) needs people and other resources, the Oregon National Guard will be able to step in quickly and send trained members to locations around the state.
"You never know how a fire season is going to be until you get the starts," said Julia Johnson, a trainer for the Oregon Military Department (OMD) who has been teaching the sessions. "The indicators with the fuels right now is that it's very dry, not just here but around the state."
The training focused on preparing Guard members for all the factors that affect fire conditions and how to work and survive in dangerous situations.
Some of the in-class training involved topography and weather issues with atmosphere stability, winds and clouds. Risk management and radio communications are also covered and are as important as the hand tools, fire hoses and fire shelters members worked with in the field training.
"A majority of the work we do is at our own sites, but we're here from all over the state to train military members," said Jennifer Laib, who works at Camp Umatilla as an OMD forest officer. "This is a lot of new information, and it's all new to them as a group, so we make sure we go over everything in detail during this whole week of training."
Oregon Air National Guard Senior Airman Selina Rodriguez, assigned to the 142nd Wing, was one of those newly trained and certified wildland firefighters.
"We are getting plenty of hands-on training, and everyone learns each aspect of the mission," she said as she rolled up a fire hose.
All of the training is fast-paced but necessary to give the Soldiers and Airmen not only the knowledge they need but the confidence to take on hazardous fires.
"These have been some really long and grueling days to get everything done in this timeline," said Ross. "With this group, there's a good balance of Soldiers and Airmen – so I am sure they have learned something about themselves, each other, and the other branch of service, too."
After a week of intense training, the familiarity with each other will come into play if members are activated. Wildland firefighting is built on teamwork, situational knowledge and communication.
Before last year's deadly fire season, the Oregon National Guard had activated almost 1,800 Guard members from 2015 to 2020. During the period, Gov. Kate Brown's emergency declaration orders included the Canyon Creek Complex in the Malheur National Forest in 2015, the Chetco Bar Fire in 2017, and the Garner Complex Fire near Grants Pass in 2018.
Now, drawing on experience and training is critical, said Stephen Bomar, director, public affairs for the Oregon Military Department.
"As an Oregonian and moving into this hot weather, it's good to know our Guard members are trained, ready, and able to support and respond should the need arise," he said.