PETERSON SFB, Colo. – At the request of the National Interagency Fire Center, U.S. Northern Command is preparing to deploy approximately 200 U.S. Army Soldiers to support a wildland fire ground response operation in the Pacific Northwest. U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command, U.S. Northern Command’s Joint Force Land Component Command, will oversee the military ground operation in support of federal and state efforts.
The 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington, has been notified of the upcoming mission. The Soldiers, who completed initial wildland firefighter training with the U.S. Forest Service earlier in July, will undergo additional specialized training at JBLM prior to deploying to the fire lines.
The country is currently at Preparedness Level 5, the highest level of wildfire preparedness, with 90 large fires burning, more than half of which are in Oregon and Washington.
The additional training at JBLM will be conducted by a highly experienced cadre and will cover firefighter safety, fire suppression methods, and the proper use of personal protective equipment. Once fully prepared and deployed, the Soldiers will serve as hand crews, constructing fire lines and conducting line-holding actions under the direct guidance of experienced civilian wildland fire crew bosses.
The Department of War has been a key wildland firefighting partner for decades, providing unique capabilities and resources to the national response effort.
For more information on military activations for civilian wildfire support, please visit https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/military-support.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: For further information, please contact U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs at (719) 554-6889 or email us at n-ncpa.omb@mail.mil.
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