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NEWS | July 8, 2008

Team Dozer creates fire breaks in California wildfires

By Pvt. Darriel Swatts, U.S. Army California National Guard

SACRAMENTO, Ca. - Team Dozer was one of the first ground elements to respond as part of the Operation Lightning Strikes firefighting operations here on July 3.

The team, which is a component of the 649th Engineer Company from Red Bluff, Calif., consists of eight trucks and trailers, eight retrofitted bulldozers and 32 Soldiers.

"With one bulldozer, I can clear about 150 men's worth of work," said Staff Sgt. Larry Enos of the California National Guard.

The dozers will create fire breaks by removing all combustible material and creating a barrier of dirt so the fire has nothing to burn and cannot continue to spread.

"It would take a lot of man hours to do what a dozer can do in a fraction of the time," said Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Spliethof, the 649th's field maintenance officer.

The Soldiers set up camp in Red Bluff on July 5-6 to prepare themselves and their equipment for upcoming missions.

First, the dozers received two improvements for this mission, including roll cages to protect Soldiers in case the dozer should turn over in the hazardous terrain, and fire curtains to help shield the operator from the heat and flying embers caused by the fires.

Next, their equipment received thorough maintenance checks. All bolts were tightened; tires were repaired, rotated or replaced; and engines were inspected to make sure they were ready to go.

And finally, the Soldiers received new fire retardant uniforms to help keep them safe in a hazardous situation. They also were trained on how to operate the dozers for firefighting missions and underwent physicals to ensure their bodies can handle the rigorous demands, which will be placed upon them.

"It makes me feel good. It is one of the reasons I joined the National Guard," Enos said. "I wanted to help my community."

It is the first time the 649th has been tasked with fighting the fires, instead of solely handling troop transportation during a natural disaster.

"With a large number of active fires currently burning, Citizen Soldiers from all over California have been called upon to provide assistance to a multi-agency fire fighting force," said Col. David Nickels, the Task Force 115th commander.

National Guard Soldiers from 11 states have deployed to northern California to assist in firefighting efforts after lightning storms in late June sparked hundreds of fires throughout the state.

 

 

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