Beale Airmen prepared to welcome 450 of their neighbors

  • Published
  • By Joe N. Wiggins
  • 1st Air Force Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Like Airmen at many other Air Force bases, the Airmen of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., are constantly working to be good neighbors with the civilian communities outside their front gate. 

The Beale community may soon have a chance to demonstrate just how far they will go as they make preparations to welcome up to 450 local residents displaced by the expanding California wildfires. 

"We have reviewed our facilities at Beale; we can support up to 450 evacuees from the fires," said Brig. Gen. Robert P. "Bob" Otto, commander of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing. "Our plan would be to bed them down in three areas; our fitness center, community center and a multipurpose facility." 

If needed, the facilities will also provide welcome relief from another condition related to the ongoing fires. 

"All of these facilities are air conditioned. This is important since the area is also in the middle of a record heat wave," said General Otto. 

While the decision has not yet been made to evacuate nearby Paradise, Calif., base officials already have started coordinating plans with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Air Force units. The unpredictable nature of the fires that have raged on for up to three weeks has meant Beale could be called on with almost no notice to provide a refuge for evacuees. 

"Once the evacuees are on station, we can handle bus transportation between the shelters," said General Otto. "We also have enough open space on base to serve as a staging area for Department of Defense and FEMA, should the need arise." 

As plans continued to get underway, Air Force officials 2,600 miles away charged with providing defense support to civil authorities were impressed by the planning and dedication at Beale. 

"I can't begin to express the outstanding support we have received from the team at Beale," said Col. Kurt Sonderman, the director of logistics at 1st Air Force at Tyndall AFB, Fla. "They are in a category all their own and have set the benchmark for helping their community." 

The commander of 1st Air Force was equally impressed with their endeavors. 

"They are truly a world-class act at Beale," said Maj. Gen. Henry C. "Hank" Morrow, commander of 1st Air Force. "The Airmen at Beale are to be commended for being ready to welcome their friends and neighbors in the middle of this ongoing situation." 

As part of U. S. Northern Command's civil support mission, 1st Air Force provides domestic disaster relief operations during fires, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. When tasked, it conducts defense support to civil authorities operations in the USNORTHCOM area of responsibility. 

A key part of the mission is to use air assets to support local, state, regional and federal emergency service agencies and protect the American people and their way of life. 

Beale AFB is one of several Air Force units that have been working as part of DOD's assistance to the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and the National Interagency Fire Center's efforts to assist as firefighters battle the wildfires. 

Other units include the North Carolina Air National Guard's 145th Airlift Wing, the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd AW from Peterson AFB, Colo., and the Wyoming ANG's 153rd AW. 

These units have been flying eight C-130 Hercules aircraft daily equipped with modular aerial fire fighting system. During their deployment to support local and state agencies, these units have been assigned to the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group. 

The Department of Defense provides defense support of civil authorities when directed to do so by the president or the secretary of defense. DOD resources employed in support of domestic civil authorities are under the command and control of the USNORTHCOM commander for responses in the continental U. S.

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