News Release: State Fire Agency & National Guard Prepare For 2022 Wildfire Season
For Immediate Release: Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Public Information Officer: Caley Pruitt | caley.pruitt@state.co.us | 720-391-1565
State Fire Agency & National Guard Prepare For 2022 Wildfire Season
April 12, 2022- The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) will conduct helicopter-based fire suppression and classroom training with the Colorado Army National Guard. This annual interagency wildland fire training exercise is conducted along with Boulder Fire-Rescue, the City of Longmont, the U.S. Forest Service, the Oklahoma Army National Guard and Kansas Army National Guard.
The training exercises include targeted aerial water delivery practice at Chatfield State Park in Littleton, CO; Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, CO; and Button Rock Reservoir in Longmont, CO. Aircraft will take off from Vance Brand Municipal Airport in Longmont, CO and Buckley Air Force Base. The training aims to improve coordinated response and airspace deconfliction for air- and ground-based response elements during emergencies between federal, state and local agencies. The majority of aircraft will be flying April 13-15, 19-21, 24, 26-29.
“Wildland fire is a dominant force that warrants considerable training; we put into place extensive safety measures, so that we can host a training that is realistic and beneficial to all agencies involved,” said DFPC Director Mike Morgan. “This type of interagency training with both our community and military partners ensures unity of effort and speed of response.”
In addition to aerial operations, the conference will include academic training at the Army Aviation Support Facility, Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora. Training will be conducted in a safe, socially distant manner. Months of planning have included coordination with local authorities for site locations, movement of equipment, and environmental considerations.
"This training is an integral part of our overall domestic response training," said Colorado Army National Guard Director of Aviation and Safety, Colonel Will Gentle. "We will use this exercise to qualify and validate our aircrews to ensure they are ready to respond to wildland fires. Integrating aircrews with ground personnel adds a dynamic and complex layer of realism."
The goal is to provide a safe and realistic training environment for comprehensive training, practice, and development of skills for all agencies involved.
###