MVU: #Navy #Wildland Training @ Camp Pendleton 3 day AirOp's evolution

Friday, May 13, 2011

MVU: #Navy #Wildland Training @ Camp Pendleton 3 day AirOp's evolution

Navy, Marine Helicopters Were Not Able To Assist Cal Fire In 2007 Wildfires

New San Diego County Agreement Allows Military To Help CAL FIRE In Major Fires

SAN DIEGO -- Navy and Marine helicopters will now be able to help in the event San Diego County is hit with another major wildfire."We just didn't know who to talk to. We hadn't worked with civilian agencies before, but that's what this training is all about," said Capt. J.C. Tiller, a Marine Corps pilot.
Training being held at Camp Pendleton is a three-day evolution to train military pilots in guidelines and protocols with Cal Fire.

"This allows us to plan out ahead of time, and so that in a crisis, we are able to respond," said Capt. Prakash Thomas, the Navy coordinator for the exercise.Using the massive CH-53, the CH-46 and the SH-60 military helicopters, Cal Fire can add to its aerial firefighting assets if disaster thresholds are met without having to wait for clearance."What used to take 24 to 48 hours, now only takes a matter of hours before we call these valuable assets in to help," said Cal Fire Chief Howard Windsor.

The San Diego agreement to allow the military to engage with civilian emergency personnel is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. "The best part about having this agreement in place is that it can be used for an earthquake, tsunami and natural disaster if the situation warrants," Windsor said.

Source: News10 article Link

No comments:

How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Friday, May 13, 2011