Guard chief: Firefighting, flood efforts 'outstanding'

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AFPN) --  The chief of the National Guard Bureau assessed the National Guard's California fire and Midwest flood-fighting efforts firsthand June 26 and 27 calling their support "superb."

"They're handling very difficult and complex issues in a very competent and professional manner," said Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum.

More than 280 citizen Soldiers and Airmen, 23 National Guard helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft helped California firefighters and more than 2,100 troops and an abundance of equipment tackling Midwest floods.

"The National Guard response has been generally superb, a benchmark case study in cooperation among the states for mutual support and cooperation during an emergency," he said. "They've achieved the correct balance between local, state and federal response in a coordinated and synchronized manner."

The general worked with the California and Iowa adjutants general as he visited their burning or flooded states included whether they have what they need, how efforts could be improved and what results they are achieving.

"In order to save lives, minimize destruction and assist recovery, we need the right capability, in the right quantity, where and when it's needed," General Blum said. "The adjutants general assess the situation, identify immediate requirements and send the National Guard's critical capabilities to meet our communities' needs."

California faced hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin have been inundated with Mississippi River flooding. The National Guard has played vital roles in both domestic disasters.

The Guard contributed OH-58 Kiowa, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters to spot fires and drop water to support civilian firefighters. RC-26 aircraft give state fire managers vital reconnaissance that improves their ability to focus effectively on firefighting efforts. C-130 Hercules aircraft dropped flame-retardant that helps halt advancing fire.

In the Midwest, the Guard contributed on the ground, sometimes in knee-deep floodwater. 

During the general's June 26 visit, two C-130s were loaded with retardant and took off toward Whiskeytown, Calif. Four of eight firefighting C-130s that exist in the United States are currently in the Chico area. More are expected to arrive soon, General Blum said.

"The (C-130s with the Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems) were prepositioned and ready," he said. "All they need is favorable weather conditions and they will make a significant impact on the fires. This will not be a case of piece-mealing the capabilities; they'll be able to mass the systems against the fire with good effect."

"There's a lot of fire out there," said Lt. Col. Mark Christian of the 156th Airlift Squadron of the North Carolina Air National Guard. "We love to get out here and fly every day and fly as much as we can. That's why we're here."

On June 25, a National Guard CH-47 plucked an injured teenager from the side of a Colorado mountain after a car crash. The same day, guardmembers assisted Border Patrol agents in four Southwest Border states, ferried drinking water to residents of several New Mexico towns, supported Louisiana police, provided critical infrastructure protection in Northeast states and California, flew critical air sovereignty missions nationwide and continued counterdrug operations.

Guardmembers also remained on duty on numerous overseas missions, including in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The nation is depending on us to do this and expects us to do this, and we're not going to fail the nation," General Blum said. "The Minutemen of the National Guard have been doing this kind of work for 272 years and will continue to do this as long as there's a United States of America. We owe it to the American people to remain always ready, always there."

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