Local firefighters and soldiers have been busy in recent weeks, traveling from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs to help contain different wildfires.
Mark Turley, a battalion chief with Aurora Fire who heads the wildland division of the department’s specialty operations, said members of the 12-man group has been in demand since the High Park fire started in Fort Collins at the beginning of June. Orders came in to the operation’s dispatch center in Pueblo for a single resource paramedic from the deployable wildland team.
“That was kind of surprising. They needed expertise … Someone who could help the firefighters on the line in case they got hurt,” Turley recalled. “Our first order was filled by Lt. George Danforth. His job was solely to be there in the event that a firefighter got injured. He would be there with a full complement of drugs, advanced life support and equipment to take care of those people. He was up there for two weeks.
Within a few days, more requests came in. The wildland team sent a brush truck and an engine crew. Another medic was deployed. As June rolled on and more fires broke out, members of the team traveled to Colorado Springs to watch the ridge behind the destructive Waldo Canyon fire.
“That ridge was called Trout Creek. It was basically a backup fire line to the west of Colorado Springs, in the event that the fire at Waldo Canyon jumped and went west,” Turley said. “They had another waiting and staging in case that happened, so they could protect the city of Woodland Park.”
More requests came in from the Pine Ridge fire near Grand Junction on the Western Slope. A call came in for resources to help fight the White Draw fire in South Dakota.
“Never in our history have we deployed resources outside of the state. But since we’re in the Rocky Mountain Region they asked us if we would send a rig. We sent them on July 5,” Turley said. “Eleven out of my 12 people worked a fire. It’s extremely unusual,” he added, “But I want to stress how wonderful it is that our fire department has stepped up to the plate and said, ‘We are willing to make a presence in the wildland community.’ That’s what they did. They made a great effort.”
Soldiers from the Colorado Army and Air National Guard, including many from Buckley Air Force Base, have also been helping out.
Guardsmen from Joint Task Force Security manned 12 traffic control points and four security checks alongside Colorado Springs Police during the blaze.
According to the Guard, the troops working security operations allow local police to focus on additional troubled areas around the city.
Airmen from the Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Wing at Buckley Air Force Base also rode with Colorado Springs Police officers and provided security to the Incident Command post, staging area, and Spike Camp.
The Guard also sent a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with a crew of three Guardsmen to assist firefighters, The helicopter dropped 58,420 gallons of water onto the Waldo Canyon fire.
The Waldo Canyon fire has been part of a busy summer for local Guardsmen, who also assisted with the High Park Fire near Fort Collins and the Eby Creek fire in Eagle County.
Air Force Col. Peter J. Byrne, dual-status commander who oversaw the active-duty and reserve troops assisting with the fires, said helping to battle the fires was important work for local soldiers.
“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,” he said in a statement.