Media Release: Media Availability to Showcase Colorado Interagency Wildfire Response Training Beginning Today

Media Release

April 10, 2015

Contact:

Colorado National Guard:  TSgt Jecca Geffre

Cell: (303) 912-3829

Media Availability to Showcase Colorado Interagency Wildfire Response Training

Denver, Colo, Thursday, April 10, 2015 – The Colorado Army National Guard 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, based at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, will partner with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control in an annual inter-agency wildland fire training exercise by conducting helicopter-based fire suppression training April 10-16. The 2-135th AVN will be working with active duty Army aviation units from Ft. Carson, as well as National Guard units from Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Residents and visitors in and near the vicinity of Chatfield Reservoir, Waterton Canyon and Strontia Springs Reservoir may notice military helicopters in the area during daylight hours approximately from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as military personnel conduct training exercises in preparation for wildfire response. All training has been closely coordinated with park staff to ensure it is conducted in a safe manner with minimal to park visitors or park operations.  The parks will remain open during the exercises.

Months of preparation were required for this exercise, ensuring the coordination of site locations, planning, movement of equipment and environmental considerations.

News Conference/ Media Availability Information
 

Date:      Friday, April, 10, 2015

Time:    9 a.m.    (Arrive at Gate no later than 8:45 a.m.)

Place:    Buckley Air Force Base, Mississippi Gate, Aurora Colorado

News media representatives should arrive at the Mississippi Avenue gate one block east of Tower Road.  Media will drive through the commercial vehicle lane and their vehicles will be searched.  Media representatives must have proof of insurance, vehicle registration, identification and valid press credentials (business cards are sufficient).  Media will be escorted to the Army Aviation Support Facility.  Media will be escorted off base at the conclusion of the conference and/or when they have the material they require.

Speaking: Agency representatives from Colorado National Guard, USFS and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control

Visuals Friday: Colorado National Guard aircraft and buckets, DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) will be onsite and participants actively learning from more than a dozen agencies. Visual opportunities for bucket drops will be shared during the media availability.

 

Planning has also included coordination with local authorities including: Denver Water, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, City of Longmont, Longmont Fire, Boulder Wildland Fire Fighting Division, City of Boulder and National Parks Service.

Contacts:  General questions regarding this training should be directed to the Colorado National Guard State Public Affairs Office at ng.co.coarng.list.staff-pao2@mail.mil or 720-250-1053.

Agency specific questions should be directed to:

• Colorado DFPC and DHSEM, PIO: Micki Trost, micki.trost@state.co.us, 303-472-4087
• USFS, PIO:  Lawrence Lujan, lmlujan@fs.fed.us, 303-275-5356
• Denver Water, Senior Media Coordinator: Travis Thompson, travis.thompson@denverwater.org, 303-628-6700  
• Ft. Carson, Media Relations Chief, Dani Johnson, daneta.johnson.civ@mail.mil, 719-338-0506

U.S. Forest Service Conducting Pile Burning in Boulder County

U.S. Forest Service firefighters continue to take advantage of existing snowpack to burn small slash piles in the Yankee Hill area near Columbine Campground and Bald Mountain Road. This north-facing unit is located about 1.5 miles northwest of Columbine Campground and is still holding plenty of snow.

Smoke may be visible from the Peak to Peak Highway (Colo. Highway 119) near Missouri Lakes. Ignitions typically begin between 10-11 a.m.

Conditions are evaluated each day of the burn to determine if ignition will take place. Wind, fuel moisture, staffing and amount of snow cover all play a factor in where and whether ignition occurs.

To receive updates on pile burning activities in the Boulder Ranger District area email krarmstrong@fs.fed.us or call 303-541-2532.

Clear Creek Ranger Pile Burning Update for Janaury 8

Information provided by US Forest Service public information officer.

U.S. Forest Service firefighters plan to take advantage of existing and forecasted snow accumulation to burn slash piles in the Yankee Hill fuels project area, Units 36 and 38, located adjacent to the south of Columbine Campground in Gilpin County. Ignition may begin Wednesday and continue throughout the week and weekend as conditions allow.

Conditions are evaluated each day of the burn to determine if ignition will take place. Wind, fuel moisture, staffing and amount of snow cover all play a factor in where and whether ignition occurs.

Due to the topography of the area pile burning activities may be visible from Apex Road, Central City, Black Hawk, and the Peak-to-Peak Highway.

To receive updates on pile burning activities in the Boulder Ranger District area visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/brdrxfire or contact Maribeth Pecotte at 303-541-2525.

Clear Creek Ranger District Pile Burning for April 1

U.S. Forest Service firefighters plan to take advantage of existing and forecasted snow accumulation to burn slash piles in the Yankee Hill fuels project area, Unit 9, located approximately one mile southeast of the Town of Apex. Ignition may begin today and continue throughout the week as conditions allow.

Conditions are evaluated each day of the burn to determine if ignition will take place. Wind, fuel moisture, staffing and amount of snow cover all play a factor in where and whether ignition occurs.

Due to the topography of the area, pile burning activities may be visible from Alice, Apex, Black Hawk, Central City and the Peak-to-Peak Highway.

So far this winter, Boulder and Clear Creek Ranger District firefighters have completed 543 acres of slash pile burning in the West Magnolia, Yankee Hill, James Creek and Sugarloaf fuel treatment areas, including 4,744 hand piles and 261 machine piles.

To receive updates on pile burning activities in the Boulder Ranger District area visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/brdrxfire or contact Maribeth Pecotte at 303-541-2525.