Mop-up instructions are being given to the CNG during training on the American River Complex. Photo: YubaNet
Task Force Shovel members repack their fire shelters after deploying them in training. Photo: YubaNet
FORESTHILL Calif. July 21 2008 - On July 11, Governor Schwarzenegger ordered a total of 2,000 California National Guard troops to assist with the firefighting efforts in California.
California Army National Guard volunteers from three different battalions (186th Quartermaster Battalion, 749th Maintenance Battalion and 149th Brigade Support Battalion) form Task Force Shovel under Task Force 115, headquartered in Roseville. The Task Force is not assigned to the American River Complex, but due to its proximity to the McClellan base the incident was picked as a training ground. For the past two days, these soldiers have been training in the field to assist firefighters in their battle against wildfires still burning in Northern California.
The task force has roughly 210 soldiers and 15-20 people operating as a command cell. After two days of classroom training, the soldiers were issued their personal protective gear and given safety briefings. Fire weather, basic firefighting strategy and hazard recognition were the major parts of the classroom training.
Firefighters passing by the National Guard troops on Foresthill Divide Road. photo: YubaNet
Then, they were sent to the American River Complex to complete three days of field training. Identifying snags and common hazards on a fireline, conducting mop-up operations and becoming familiar with the tools comprise the major portion of the field training.
"We are looking forward to assisting any incidents we'll get assigned to," said Major Martinelli. The volunteers will find out on Tuesday if they are being assigned to an actual fire or demobilized. Two other Task Force teams, Ax and Pick, are currently assigned to fires. Shovel could provide relief for them.
"Regardless, it's a good opportunity for the California National Guard and Air Guard to certify soldiers and airmen with their 'Red Card'," Martinelli said. "If incidents occur in August or September, there isn't that one-week lag time. We simply can just mobilize them and get them out to the incidents."
The bulk of the soldiers present on Sunday were traditional guardsmen and women, most with jobs in their communities. Nevertheless, they all volunteered within 48 hours of the lightning event. Should the task force be demobilized on Tuesday and recalled at a later date, approximately 80% of them will return, Martinelli said.
The training also allows two different command structures to get acquainted and learn to work together. The firefighters command system and the military are similar in many aspects, but communication between the two systems is key. Therefore, each task force is assigned battalion military liaison people from the federal agency coordination group (NorthOps). They function as the liaison between the Incident Commander on the fire and the National Guard Lieutenant-General.
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