Photo By Peter Chang | Soldiers from the Washington National Guard take part in wildland fire fighter...... read more read more
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What has been an unprecedented year continues as Soldiers and Airmen in the Washington National Guard, who have been supporting the COVID-19 response and civil unrest missions, transition to prepare for what could be another catastrophic wildfire season.
“We have been actively responding for the past 15 months to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general. “With vaccination rates improving and the state getting set to reopen in June, we are shifting our focus back to supporting our fight against summer fires.”
This year more than 200 Washington National Guard members will take part in Red Card certification training with the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The Washington National Guard has supported DNR with strike teams during seven of the last eight fire seasons.
“The Guard has been a force multiplier,” said Fire Academy Manager Brian Looper, who works for DNR. “Their hand crews and helicopters have been a huge part of our efforts every year.”
Since 2013, more than 4,500 Washington National Guard members have been activated to help fight wildfires. This year is being described as a drought year, which has resulted in an early start to wildfires.
“This year is already heating up,” Hilary Franz, commissioner of public lands, wrote in a Facebook post. “We have already been out on a number of wildfires here in Washington.”
Last year, 100 Guard personnel were activated in September to help with fires in the Northport area. Helicopter crews activated a month prior and supported five different firefighting efforts across the state, including the Sumner Grade Fire that threated hundreds of homes in the Bonney Lake area.
“We have been here to answer the call during wild fire season in the past and this year we are hearing it could be another historic year,” said Daugherty. “We are getting our Guardsmen ready now, trained, equipped and on standby for when they get the call.”
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2021 10:36 |
| Story ID: | 397559 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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