7 Nov 2007

AFNORTH liaisons deploy for wildfire relief efforts

Air Forces Northern deployed nine Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers, or EPLOs, as early as Monday to various parts of the Western United States to aid in Southern California Wildfire relief efforts. These officers, requested by FEMA and approved by the Secretary of Defense, stand ready to coordinate military-unique assets for rescue, relief

6 Nov 2007

WADS contributes to lifesaving event

The Western Air Defense Sector, a unit of the Washington Air National Guard, played a vital role in saving lives on Oct. 26 as wild fires blazed in Southern California. While on a night mission under WADS' tactical control, a P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft from the Navy's Patrol Squadron VP 46, Whidbey Island, Wash., spotted a home in an

31 Oct 2007

CAP flying in support of Calif. wildfires mission

Now in their second week of round-the-clock operations, the Civil Air Patrol's California Wing members are conducting reconnaissance flights in support of various federal, state and local agencies as part of the response to deadly wildfires that have consumed more than 500,000 acres in seven Southern California counties. The California Wing was

29 Oct 2007

MAFFS fly 64 missions in support of California wildfires

Six Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules planes equipped with the Military Airborne Firefighting System have flown 64 missions dropping fire retardant on wildfires in Southern California since Wednesday. Requested by the local incident commander these aircraft flew from Channel Islands Air National Guard Base, Calif., dropping

27 Oct 2007

Global Hawk, U-2 and P-3 aircraft capture images of wildfires

Throughout the week Air Forces Northern tasked RQ-4 Global Hawk and U-2 mapping aircraft from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., and a Navy P-3 aircraft flying out of Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., to provide still photos and video to firefighting commanders and civil authorities on the ground. Military technology plays an important role in our

24 Oct 2007

AFNORTH helps fight wildfires

Air Forces Northern is deploying an Air Component Coordination Element, or ACCE, to support firefighting operations in Southern California. The ACCE is an Air Force team designed to perform the command and control function for Air Force assets supporting the efforts. When the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested DOD resources to help with

23 Oct 2007

AFNORTH deploying personnel, aircraft for California wildfires

Air Forces Northern is overseeing the deployment of six C-130 aircraft capable of transporting and employing the Military Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), along with appropriate command and control and support personnel to support and assist emergency response efforts in Southern California. MAFFS is an emergency capability designed to