Roughly 250 active duty soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, are currently assisting with efforts to battle a wildfire in Washington state that has burned almost 58,000 acres since it began on July 17.
Most of the soldiers helping with the firefighting efforts are assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, said Lt. Col. Cain Claxton, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command.
Claxton said the soldiers are “organized into disciplined hand crew teams” to help a national effort to fight a blaze known as the Modrite Fire. As of Tuesday, the wildfire was about 62% contained, according to KIRO-TV in Seattle, Washington.
“Their daily schedule follows the civilian incident command structure: morning briefings, movement to the affected area, and tasks such as constructing, improving, and patrolling fire lines,” Claxton said.
Top Stories This Week
A photo released by the U.S. military shows soldiers in the unit using axes to clear a fire line, which is a barrier of soil that prevents wildfires from spreading and is built by removing anything that can burn from a strip that is anywhere from 6 inches to 3 feet wide.
“All activities are directed by experienced wildland fire strike team leaders and crew as part of a ‘whole of government’ response to help suppress wildland fires and protect communities and natural resources,” Claxton said.
The U.S. military has helped civilian crews respond to wildfires for decades. Most recently, the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group asked for help from the active duty soldiers, a Defense Department news release says.
“The requested support is for 30 days,” Claxton said. “U.S. Northern Command and interagency partners determine when military support is no longer needed, at which point soldiers return to their regular duties.”
Authorities asked for military firefighting crews to support ground firefighting efforts, said Claxton, who added that the soldiers had already prepared for such a mission.
Soldiers must complete classroom and fielding training with the U.S. Forest Service prior to taking part in firefighting efforts, Claxton said. They receive specialized tools, protective equipment, and lessons about wildfires.
“Once mobilized, they work under civilian crew bosses and follow established national incident management procedures, allowing them to integrate smoothly with partner agencies and contribute safely and effectively,” Claxton said
The current firefighting effort in support marks Western Hemisphere Command’s first mission to help federal, state, and local authorities since U.S. Army North was folded into the command last month, Claxton said.
“This request reflects the need for surge support as wildland fire seasons intensify and civilian resources are fully committed,” Claxton said. Washington State is currently in the midst of its third-worst fire season in the past 20 years, in part due to the combination of hot weather and dry vegetation.
In addition to the active duty troops, more than 350 National Guardsmen are helping to fight several blazes across the state.
“They are providing a variety of support missions including aviation support, firefighting hand crews, traffic control point support and Red Cross donation support,” said Joseph F. Siemandel, a Washington National Guard spokesperson.
As of Monday, Washington National Guard aviation crews had flown nearly 225 flight hours and dumped nearly 1.2 million gallons of water on the flames, a state National Guard news release says.
The post Roughly 250 active duty soldiers are fighting a wildfire in Washington state appeared first on Task & Purpose.
Recent Comments