Air National Guardsmen called to assist ground firefighting

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MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. (AFPN) --  The 129th Rescue Wing is mobilizing approximately 30 Airmen to provide direct ground support to help the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection with the current wildfire threat in northern California. 

The department will train the Airmen on firefighting techniques beginning later next week. This group of Airmen is part of the 2,000 guardsmen ordered last week by the governor to provide ground support.

Personnel will report to the Wildland Fire Training Center at McClellan Airfield, Calif., July 23 to train on fire behavior, fire safety, and how to create fire containment lines using hand tools. After completing training, the guardsmen will be available to support the department, and the firefighter training remains current for one year after completion.

In addition to ground support personnel, the 129th RW also provided two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters for fighting various northern California wildfires. Since July 3, the aircraft and crews have dropped more than 150,000 gallons of water. One aircraft remains stationed at Chico, Calif.

An MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker and crew stationed here remains on standby to support firefighting operations. The 129th RW and California National Guard work supproting the governor and civilian responders and will continue to be deployed in the affected area as long as needed.

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