Total Force

(U.S. Air Force graphic, photo by Staff Sgt. Stephany D. Richards)

Taking a look

Richard Strange looks out at his worksite for the day in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012. Strange and the rest of the firefighters o the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots helped battle several fires in Waldo Canyon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Clear the line

Marissa Halbeisen helps cut and clear a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012. Currently, more than 90 firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Academy, along with assets from Air Force Space Command; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; and the local community continue to fight the Waldo Canyon fire. Halbeisen is a firefighter with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Towering inferno

Flames tower over the treeline in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012. Air Force and civilian firefighters continue to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Battle

While helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon, firefighters with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots cut a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012. The Waldo Canyon fire has grown to 18,500 acres and burned more than 300 homes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Toward the flames

Driving into the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., firefighters with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots drive to the site where they will cut a fire line while helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon on June 28, 2012. Currently, more than 90 firefighters from the U.S. Air Force Academy, along with assets from Air Force Space Command; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; and the local community continue to fight the Waldo Canyon fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Quick break

Chris Loung looks at his phone during a team lunch break from cutting a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012. Loung and the rest of the firefighters of the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots are helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Team work

Nathan Ogan and Chris Loung cut a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., while helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon on June 28, 2012. The Waldo Canyon fire has grown to 18,500 acres and burned over 300 homes. Both Ogan and Loung are firefighters with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Fuel stop

Brad Mabery downs a tree with a chainsaw with the help of Marissa Halbeisen while cutting and clearing a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28, 2012, Mabery and Halbeisen, both firefighters with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots, are helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Fighting fires

Lupe Covarrubias cuts a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., while helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon on June 28, 2012. The Waldo Canyon fire has grown to 18,500 acres and burned more than 300 homes. Covarrubias is a firefighter with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Digging in

Lupe Covarrubias cuts a fire line on June 28, 2012 in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Co. while helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon. Currently, more than 90 firefighters from the Academy, along with assets from Air Force Space Command; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; and the local community continue to fight the Waldo Canyon fire. Covarrubias is a firefighter with the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Hot Shots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Hot shots

Vandenberg Air Force Base Hot Shot firefighters prepare to cut a fire line in the Mount Saint Francois area of Colorado Springs, Colo., while helping to battle several fires in Waldo Canyon on June 28, 2012. The Waldo Canyon fire has grown to 18,500 acres and burned more than 300 homes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Colorado fire update

Tech Sgt. Jason Linta, Bobby Garza and Dean Prestia cut lines to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., on June 28, 2012. Sergeant Linta is a firefighter assigned to the Academy and Garza and Prestia are firefighters assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Academy firefighters battle Waldo Canyon fire

Tech Sgt. Jason Linta, Bobby Garza and Dean Prestia cut lines to create a firebreak to prevent fires from jumping at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., on June 28, 2012. Sergeant Linta is a firefighter assigned to the Academy and Garza and Prestia are firefighters assigned to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The Waldo Canyon fire has destroyed more than 18,000 acres in the Colorado Springs area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)

Academy firefighters battle Waldo Canyon fire

U.S. Air Force Academy firefighter Staff Sgt. Nicole Longwell dispatches firefighting teams to relieve team members during the Waldo Canyon Fire at the Academy on June 27, 2012. Currently, more than 90 firefighters from the Academy, along with assets from Air Force Space Command; F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; Fort Carson, Colo.; and the local community continue to fight the fire. Longwell is assigned to the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock)

Hot Shots

A Vandenberg Air Force Base Hot Shots vehicle backs into the belly of a C-17 Globemaster III at Vanderberg Air Force Base, Calif., on June 27, 2012. Eighteen members of the Vandenberg Hot Shot crew, along with two crew carrier vehicles, one superintendent support vehicle and one all-terrain vehicle deployed to Colorado to support the wildland fire-fighting efforts. The Globemaster III is assigned to March Air Reserve Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Colorado Wildfire

Airmen and MAFFS-equipped C-130s assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyo., arrive at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to provide support to ongoing Colorado firefighting efforts. The 153rd Airlift Wing, along with the 302nd Airlift Wing, have been tasked to provide the requested MAFFS support in the state. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nichole Grady)

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MAFFS equipped C-130's from the 153rd Air Expeditionary Group prepare to take off from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. June 26, 2012. Crews made 20 drops delivering 52,000 gallons of retardant in an effort to suppress the Waldo Canyon fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Nichole Grady)