Oct. 28, 2007

C-130s make air drops in support of California firefighters

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The Department of Defense completed a fifth day of supporting California firefighting efforts with more than 20 air drops on Sunday. Flying under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command, six Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules planes equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System

Oct. 28, 2007

NORTHCOM commander praises U.S. Army North’s efforts during wildfires

PASADENA, Calif. – Air Force Gen. Victor Renuart, commander of U.S. Northern Command, visited U.S. Army North Soldiers and civilians deployed here in response to the Southern California wildfires.  Col. Mark Armstrong, Army North’s Region IX Defense Coordinating Officer, briefed General Renuart about his defense coordinating element’s

Oct. 28, 2007

ARNORTH transitions from exercise mode to real world

U.S. Army North proved it’s ready for the “real world” during exercise Vigilant Shield ’08.   The national-level exercise, sponsored by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the Department of Homeland Security, tested how the unit responds during homeland defense and civil support emergencies.

Oct. 28, 2007

US Army North supports California firefighting efforts

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – US Army North has deployed an operational command post to Southern California to provide command and control of DoD forces supporting firefighting efforts.  This is the first time U.S. Northern Command has directed operational deployment of an Army North OCP.Army North’s Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Matthews, OCP commander, is

Oct. 27, 2007

Firefighting MAFFS crews face unique challenges

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. – The military crews in the planes dropping fire retardant on wildfire flames in southern California face hazards and challenges unique to their humanitarian mission. First is the low altitude at which they fly, and the sudden, violent updrafts and downdrafts caused by the heat of the fire. Factor in

Oct. 27, 2007

Global Hawk , U-2 and P-3 aircraft capture images of wildfires

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Throughout the week Air Forces Northern tasked RQ-4 Global Hawk and U-2 mapping aircraft from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and a Navy P-3 aircraft flying out of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., to provide still photos and video to firefighting commanders and civil authorities on the ground.Military technology

Oct. 27, 2007

Navy’s Task Force Bulldozer Supports San Diego Firefighting Efforts

CORONADO, Calif. - Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 deployed Task Force Bulldozer Friday in support of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s firefighting efforts in San Diego County.Task Force Bulldozer will provide support to CAL Fire by supplementing over-taxed firefighting equipment and resources.  These additional

Oct. 27, 2007

U.S. Northern Command continues California firefighting assistance

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — The Department of Defense completed a third day of supporting California firefighting efforts with specially equipped aircraft on Friday. Six Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules planes equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System dropped tons of fire retardant on wildfires in San Diego

Oct. 27, 2007

U.S. Northern Command provides wildfire imagery to first responders

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Department of Defense aircraft are capturing high-resolution video to assist in fighting the California wildfires. The commander of U.S. Northern Command, Gen. Gene Renuart, directed on Wednesday for specially equipped military aircraft to begin providing real-time, unclassified imagery to planners and fire leaders

Oct. 26, 2007

U.S. Northern Command aircraft continue California firefighting assistance

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif.— The Department of Defense completed a second day of supporting California firefighting efforts with specially equipped aircraft on Thursday.Six Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules planes equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System dropped tons of fire retardant on

Oct. 25, 2007

Navy fights fires, prevents blackouts, helps military families

SAN DIEGO – As part of Task Force Bulldozer, 40 local sailors from the Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 are conducting bulldozer training today with Cal Fire and the California Department of Forestry for potential firefighting support missions in San Diego County. The Navy continued to attack the fire from the air Wednesday. Six Navy MH-60

Oct. 25, 2007

Airmen, aircraft support California wildfire efforts

BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s U-2 and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft have been tasked to collect high-altitude imagery of the wildfires in southern California. Flying in support of U.S. Northern Command’s southern California mission, both the U-2 and Global Hawk are collecting imagery to provide intelligence on the current

Oct. 25, 2007

Joint Task Force Civil Support aids DOD response to California Wildfires

FORT MONROE, Va. -- In support of the Department of Defense’s response to the wildfires that have devastated Southern California, Joint Task Force Civil Support today deployed a seven-man planning team to Sacramento to support the California Army and Air National Guard’s state level planning effort.   A JTF-CS public affairs officer also deployed

Oct. 25, 2007

U.S. Northern Command aircraft assist with firefighting in California

CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. – At the request of the local incident commander Wednesday afternoon, five Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System flew their first missions in support of the California wildfires. The aircraft, under operational control

Oct. 25, 2007

Navy, Marine Corps units help avert San Diego power outages

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps helped San Diego residents avoid potential power outages during the San Diego firestorm crisis, Oct. 24. “We appreciate the Navy and Marine Corps’ response to our urgent request for electricity demand reduction,” said Michael Niggli, chief operating officer for San Diego Gas & Electric. “SDG&E is fortunate