ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members from five western states have wrapped up a busy wildland firefighting season, closing out a year that saw more than 4 million gallons of water and retardant dropped on wildland fires in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho and Montana.
In California, the season saw more than 300 Soldiers called up, trained and sent to work alongside local and state firefighters on the ground creating fire breaks, reducing underbrush and other fuel sources for the fires and mopping up lingering hot spots.
"California National Guard hand crews covered miles of exceptionally rugged and steep terrain, hiking an average of 12 miles daily to accomplish the tough tasks of fuel reduction, mopping up and patrolling hot spots," said Army Capt. Jan Bender of the California Guard.
Soldiers also fought the fires from the air, using UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters to drop water on the fires. Airmen from the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing also joined the fight, using C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System to drop additional retardant and water on fires throughout Northern California. Together, they dropped more than 1.2 million gallons of water and retardant, said Bender.
Meanwhile, Army and Air Guard members in Washington state dropped approximately 2.5 million gallons of water and retardant-more than triple the amount dropped during the 2012 fire season, said Washington National Guard officials. Over a roughly two month period beginning July 16, more than 750 Washington Guard members were activated to assist with firefighting efforts in a variety of roles ranging from aerial and ground firefighting efforts, health and wellness checks on those in affected areas and manning traffic control points as well as other missions.
The year also marked the first time in more than a decade that Washington Guard members were activated to serve as part of ground crews fighting wildfires, rather than providing aerial support only, Washington Guard officials said. Wildfires in Washington burned more than 600,000 acres, the most fire the state has seen in recent history.
In Oregon, aviators with the Oregon Army National Guard also used Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters to battle fires that burned close to 100,000 acres. That meant long days flying through thick smoke and heat while coordinating with multiple entities to makes sure the retardant and water got to where it was needed.
"We have two pilots (in the aircraft)-one flies the helicopter and the other navigates and talks on the radio that goes to both air attack and firefighters on the ground," said Army Lt. Col. Alan Gronewold, describing the operation of the Chinook during firefighting efforts. "Then we have two crew members, one stands at the door behind (the pilot) and lines the helicopter up with the fire-so he tells us turn left and right. The fourth lies on the floor of the helicopter and monitors the (water) bucket through the cargo hold and actually releases the water onto the fire."
Oregon Guard members flew more than 1000 missions dropping more than 800,000 gallons of water and retardant on wildfires that burned more than 46,000 acres. They were activated July 18 and wrapped up firefighting efforts by the end of August.
Aircrews from the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing, flying MAFFS-equipped C-130s, assisted with wildfire efforts in Montana and Idaho, dropping more than 15,000 gallons of water and retardant.
As this season comes to a close, Guard members are busy preparing for next year's wildfire season.
"It's a year-round training effort, but March is when we really focus on preparing our crews for fire season," said Command Sgt. Major. Shane Lake, sergeant major of the Oregon Guard. "This year, the season just started a little earlier than usual."