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NEWS | June 26, 2013

Colorado Guard supporting firefighting efforts, 2 medevac helicopters standing by

By Courtesy Story

CENTENNIAL, Colo. - More than 225 Colorado National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are supporting incident commanders at fires throughout Colorado.

In addition to the support listed below, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, each outfitted with a hoist, are on standby for medevac and search-and-rescue operations, if needed by incident commanders.

West Fork Complex Fire:

  • Fourteen Colorado National Guard Soldiers of the 1157th Engineer Firefighting Company, along with their high capacity off-road firefighting trucks and water tenders, are supporting firefighting efforts.
  • National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are manning multiple checkpoints around the fire area in support of local law enforcement.
  • Colorado Air National Guard Airmen are providing a phone, Internet and radio communications platforms to facilitate communications between civil and military authorities.
  • Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers are providing geographic imaging support to the incident commander.

East Peak Fire:

  • Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers are manning multiple checkpoints around the fire area in support of the Huerfano County Sheriff.
  • Fifteen Soldiers are providing firefighting support on wildland fire hand-crew teams.
  • Colorado Air National Guard Airmen are providing phone, Internet and radio communications platforms to facilitate communications between civil and military authorities.
  • The Colorado National Guard helicopters and crews performing bucket drops ended their mission Tuesday after having dropped more than 131,000 gallons of water on the East Peak fire.

Black Forest Fire

  • The Colorado National Guard is providing tents for non-governmental organizations to support relief and recovery efforts.

 

 

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