Showing posts with label COLORADO WILDFIRES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label COLORADO WILDFIRES. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2012

PRESIDENT OBAMA THANKED FIREFIGHTERS, VOWS TO MARSHAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT



Photo:  Colorado Fire.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force Photo By Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Obama: Employ All Resources to Fight Colorado Wildfires
WASHINGTON, June 30, 2012 - As President Barack Obama thanked firefighters and volunteers, and met with impacted families in wildfire-devastated areas in and around Colorado Springs, Colo., yesterday, he also vowed to marshal all federal resources -- including military -- to combat the fires.

"We're going to continue to make sure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Forest Service, our military and National Guard and all the resources that we have available at the federal level are brought to bear in fighting this fire," Obama said today in his weekly video address to the nation. He recorded this week's address during his Colorado visit.

The federal government has marshaled thousands of firefighters, hundreds of fire engines, and more than 100 aircraft, including 19 air tankers, to support firefighting efforts in a number of Western states including Colorado, White House officials noted.
Meanwhile, four Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are assisting in the efforts to control fires in the Rocky Mountain region at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, according to a Northcom news release issued today.

Northcom, based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., partners with other agencies to conduct homeland defense, civil support and security cooperation to defend and secure the United States and its interests.

Four additional MAFFS-equipped aircraft will be arriving later today to assist with firefighting efforts within the Rocky Mountain region, the Northcom release said.
As of early today, DOD aircraft have flown the following wildfire fighting missions in Colorado:

-- Waldo Canyon Fire, near Colorado Springs, Colo.: Fifty air drops, employing approximately 133,500 gallons of flame retardant;
-- Flagstaff Fire, near Boulder, Colo.,: Five air drops, employing about 13,200 gallons of flame retardant; and

-- Arapahoe National Forrest Fire, Colo.,: Six air drops, employing approximately 13,250 gallons of flame retardant.

Military units that conducted those missions are the 302nd Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing based in Cheyenne. Both units are currently flying missions out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

The California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, from Channel Islands, and the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing, from Charlotte, will soon join the 153rd and the 302nd, military officials said.

This is the first time since 2008 that all eight military aircraft have been activated at one time, said Air Force Col. Jerry Champlin, 153rd Air Expeditionary Group commander. In that year, the aircraft were stationed at McClellan Airpark in Sacramento, Calif., to fight fires in that state.

Champlin, a member of the Wyoming Air National Guard, has tactical control over the MAFFS aircraft.
Although all eight C-130s will operate from Peterson Air Force Base for now, where they will drop fire retardant depends on the daily situation in the region, officials said. The U.S. Forest Service also may choose to base one or more aircraft in other operating areas.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

COLORADO GOVERNOR HICKENLOOPER SELECTS COMMANDER TO OVERSEE WILDFIRE RESPONSE


Photo:  C130 Fighting Wildfire.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force.
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Commander to Oversee Colorado Wildfire Response
By Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau
ARLINGTON, Va., June 29, 2012 - A National Guard dual-status commander has been recently appointed to support wildfire response and relief efforts in Colorado, according to Defense Department and National Guard officials.

Air Force Col. Peter J. Byrne -- director of the joint staff, Joint Force Headquarters-Colorado -- was selected by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper in agreement with Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, the Colorado National Guard reported.
"The dual-status commander will coordinate military firefighting efforts in the state," Hickenlooper said. "This commander operates as the liaison to make sure that we can take federal assets and airmen, soldiers, bulldozers, helicopters, Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems aircraft and get whatever tool we need."

Byrne, who is a Colorado resident, will work with fire incident commanders.
When agreed upon by the secretary of defense and the governor of an affected state, dual-status commanders can direct both federal active duty forces and state National Guard forces in response to domestic incidents, Defense Department officials said.
The unity of effort is intended to foster greater cooperation among federal and state military assets during a disaster.

The dual-status commander concept was most recently used in support of the NATO Summit in Chicago in May.

Byrne is a command pilot with more than 2,500 military flying hours and more than 145 combat hours, officials said. He was commissioned in 1984 and joined the Colorado Air National Guard in 1991.

"Working hand in hand with active duty forces is something the National Guard has performed seamlessly for more than 10 years in overseas missions," Byrne said. "Though the circumstances are tragic, bringing this experience of partnership to help friends, family and neighbors is a rewarding and natural extension of this valuable relationship."
According to Defense Department officials:

The nation's governors led the creation of this new opportunity for collaboration. Dual-status commanders ensure that state and federal military forces work together effectively together when states request federal forces. Through this improved partnership, military forces responding to the wildfires will be better able to avoid duplication of effort and support the needs of the incident and the American people.

The dual-status commander concept was codified in 2011, with 10 USC - 12304 as the usual and customary command and control arrangement for missions involving the simultaneous deployment of active duty, Reserve and National Guard forces in support of civilian authorities during major disasters and other emergencies.

Friday, June 29, 2012

PRESIDENT OBAMA DECLARES MAJOR DISASTER FOR COLORADO


FROM:  U.S. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Release Date: June 29, 2012
President Declares Major Disaster for Colorado
WASHINGTON, D.C. --  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to Colorado to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires beginning on June 9, 2012, and continuing.

Federal funding is available for Crisis Counseling and Disaster Unemployment Assistance for affected individuals in El Paso and Larimer counties impacted by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires.

Federal funding also is available to state, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, for El Paso and Larimer counties impacted by the High Park and Waldo Canyon Fires.

Michael F. Byrne has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.  Byrne said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

ACCOUNTING FOR NAVAL FAMILIES IN COLORADO


FROM:  U.S. NAVY
120627-N-WR119-014 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 27, 2012) The Waldo Canyon fire burns on the south end of the United States Air Force Academy campus. The fire displaced 15 Navy Operational Support Center Fort Carson personnel and burned 15,324 acres as 32,000 people were evacuated. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gilbert Bolibol/Released)


Navy Issues Order To Account For Navy Families In Colorado
From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The Navy has issued an order to account for Navy personnel and their families affected by the Colorado wildfires according to a Navy message released June 28.

NAVADMIN 196/12 requires commanders to conduct a personnel accountability muster of all Navy personnel and families in the Colorado counties of El Paso, Douglas, and Teller. Navy figures show approximately 3,100 Navy personnel residing in the affected geographical area.

This order includes active and Reserve component Sailors, Navy government service employees and family members.

Additionally, commanding officers are responsible for ensuring the muster is entered in the Navy Family Accountably and Assessment System (NFASS) at https://navyfamily.navy.mil.

Individuals who are unable to contact their command should log on to NFAAS and muster on the Navy Family Members' section. Impacted personnel unable to contact their command or the NFAAS website can call the NFASS Help Desk at (866) 946-9183.

Navy personnel and families, who are severely impacted, must log into NFAAS athttps://navyfamily.navy.mil to update contact information and complete a needs assessment survey at their earliest convenience. Affected personnel can contact the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) (877) 414-5358 for further assistance once their needs assessment survey is submitted.

NFAAS standardizes a method for the Navy to account, manage, and monitor the recovery process for personnel and their families affected and/or scattered by a wide-spread catastrophic event.

For more information read the NAVADMIN at www.npc.navy.mil


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