JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Six Alaska Air National Guard firefighters from the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron are helping fight the Moose Creek Fire.
The Alaska National Guard received the Division of Forestry’s official request for support from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center through the State Emergency Operations Command Center on Monday about 9 a.m. They provided the requested "Red Card" certified wildland firefighters within four hours.
The Alaska Division of Forestry says high winds and limited resources pose a significant challenge to the firefighters contending with the 300-acre blaze that has come within about 75 feet of the highway.
Air National Guard members reported to the Division of Forestry in Palmer around noon with their personal protective equipment and firefighting gear, and will support the firefighting effort through Wednesday.
Elsewhere, about a dozen Guard members were helping fight a fire in Nevada's Washoe Valley that consumed at least 22 homes. In Oklahoma, about 10 National Guard members were on standby if needed to assist in fire suppression, according to the National Guard Bureau.