Nov. 21, 2007

MAFFS capable aircraft in position in California

U.S. Northern Command is supporting the deployment of  Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) -equipped C-130 aircraft and supporting personnel to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in anticipation of a Santa Ana wind event in Southern California, increasing the possibility of forest fires similar to those which ravaged areas of the

Nov. 17, 2007

U.S Northern Command anticipates firefighting support to California as Santa Ana winds pick up

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command is actively engaged in the deployment of four C-130 aircraft with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., in anticipation of the need for support in initial attack firefighting activity across Southern California.Wind predictions

Nov. 7, 2007

California state fire marshal praises USNORTHCOM response to wildfires

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In a presentation Tuesday in Colorado Springs, Colo., California's state fire marshal described the response to the recent Southern California wildfires as unequalled in her experience and credited U.S. Northern Command with being the "enabler" of the firefighting operation.Chief Kate Dargan, who has been with the

Oct. 31, 2007

Joint Task Force Civil Support aids California National Guard response to wildfires

FORT MONROE, Va. -- In support of the Department of Defense’s response to the wildfires that have hit Southern California, Chief Petty Officer Roberto Montoto, a Joint Task Force Civil Support intelligence specialist, deployed as part of a seven-person planning team to Sacramento to support the California Army and Air National Guard’s state-level

Oct. 30, 2007

DoD, U.S Northern Command assets, personnel supported Southern California firefighting efforts

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The Department of Defense deployed, under the operational control of U.S. Northern Command, unique military capabilities to support local, state and federal emergency response efforts in Southern California. The following is a list of Department of Defense assets and personnel that were used to support those

Oct. 29, 2007

Joint military effort aids California families in need

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – Although the California wildfires have had a devastating impact on many families, a glimmer of hope is beginning to shine through. Servicemembers and their families, businesses, residents of the Riverside community and March Air Reserve Base now have a way to help with the relief effort. People can make donations

Oct. 29, 2007

From tactical to practical, military meets California’s needs

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – When the call came in requesting federal help to combat the flames engulfing hundreds of thousands of acres in southern California, it was only a matter of time until the Department of Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the California National Guard sprang into action.“This was a larger incident than

Oct. 29, 2007

Relationships key to firefighting response success

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- As the Defense Coordinating Officer of the California wildfires for U.S. Northern Command, Army Col. Mark Armstrong knows the importance of building concrete relationships with other agencies. By providing Department of Defense support of civil authorities, Armstrong has been rubbing elbows with agencies at many

Oct. 29, 2007

DCO spearheads DoD support to California firefighting

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – When the defense coordinating officer from U.S. Army North is tasked by U. S. Army North to assist civil authorities in a disaster area, one thing is for sure: assets will be available. As the fires continue in southern California, Col. Mark Armstrong, the Region IX DCO, has the responsibility to coordinate assets

Oct. 29, 2007

Wildfires spark deployment of Army North Command Post

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – As wildfires ravaged southern California, Army North's Operational Command Post 2 deployed to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., Wednesday to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the crisis. “After we got the call, we had 36 hours to deploy our personnel and equipment,” said Army Lt. Col.

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