Oregon National Guard Prepares For Fires, Conducts Annual Red Card Training (Photo) -07/15/20

SALEM, Ore. - Approximately 400 Oregon National Guard (ORNG) Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen will be completing red card training, which began July 11, 2020 at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), and concludes on July 17.

“This has truly been a successful partnership between the Oregon Guard, DPSST and ODF (Oregon Department of Forestry) for many years,” said Maj. Stephen Bomar, Director of Public Affairs for the Oregon Military Department.

The training at DPSST certifies “Red Card" ORNG members for the upcoming wildfire period. Since March, the Oregon National Guard has been assisting the Oregon Health Authority deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of the COVID19 response, while also preparing for the upcoming fire season. 

Oregon Army National Guard Aviation has also completed Bambi Bucket training in June to support potential firefighting incidents. Bambi Buckets are specialized containers suspended on a cable and carried by helicopters to distribute water for airborne firefighting operations. The Oregon National Guard has HH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and the newer F-Model CH-47 Chinook helicopters to support the Oregon Department of Forestry if needed. 

Since 2015 to 2020, a total of 1,767 Oregon Guardsmen will have been trained to assist the state. Many have been activated during this time period following Governor Kate Brown’s emergency declaration orders to include the Canyon Creek Complex in the Malheur National Forest in 2015, the Chetco Bar Fire in 2017 in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, and the Garner Complex Fire near Grants Pass in 2018.

The training provided to the members of the Oregon National Guard by DPSST is the same training required of all public and private wildland firefighters, which includes classroom, hands-on, and live-fire elements. This training is being proactively offered to have members of the Oregon National Guard ready to quickly respond in case their assistance is needed this summer by the Oregon Department of Forestry.

“This is what we do,” Bomar said. “We train to be prepared, so when we’re needed we are there.”

The ORNG has an ongoing agreement with ODF known as Operation Plan Smokey, which stipulates the specifics of how Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen can be utilized to assist in firefighting efforts.

The media is invited to view a live-fire training at the DPSST site in Salem, Thurs., July 16, at 1 p.m., and to interview service members in training. Please RSVP with POC below.

POC: Sgt. 1st Class Amy Elker, NCOIC, JFHQ Public Affairs, 503-584-3154, amy.j.elker.mil@mail.mil.

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Photos:

170805-Z-NJ272-004: An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, dips a 2,000-gallon capacity Bambi Bucket into the water during firefighting efforts at the Whitewater Fire in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area on August 5, 2017. Oregon Governor Kate Brown's state of emergency order on August 2, allowed the Oregon National Guard to deploy requested assets in support of the Oregon Department of Forestry’s firefighting efforts. Two Chinook helicopters are currently assigned to the fire. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)

170805-Z-NJ272-007: An Oregon Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter, with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, carries a 2,000-gallon capacity Bambi Bucket above the Mount Jefferson Wilderness Area in support of firefighting efforts at the Whitewater Fire on August 5, 2017. The Oregon National Guard was called upon following Governor Kate Brown's emergency order on August 2. Approximately 25 personnel and two Chinook helicopters are currently assigned to assist Oregon Department of Forestry with the fire. (Photo by Capt. Leslie Reed, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)

170828-Z-OT568-140: Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers practice containing wild land fire during a field training exercise at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) in Salem, Oregon, August 28, 2017. Nearly 125 Citizen-Soldiers from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team volunteered to join the second iteration of personnel, also known as NG-2, activated by Governor Kate Brown to assist with wildfires across the state of Oregon. The Oregon National Guard is currently assigned to three different fires in central and southern Oregon; the Whitewater, High Cascades Complex, and Chetco Bar fires. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class April Davis, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

170815-Z-CH590-006: Oregon National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conduct refresher training on how to use an emergency fire shelter at the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training academy, in Salem, Oregon, August 15, 2017. More than 100 Oregon National Guardsmen are being deployed to support the High Cascade Complex Fire near Crater Lake, Oregon. (National Guard photo Master Sgt. John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

180806-A-LM216-918: Soldiers with the Oregon Army National Guard fight the Garner Complex Fire side-by-side with firefighters from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) north of Grants Pass, Ore., Aug. 2. Support from the Oregon National Guard is adding much needed capacity to ODF to fight fires. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zach Holden, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)

200712-A-UF867-006: Oregon Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Donna Prigmore, Air Component Commander, speaks with one of the service members of the wildland firefighter training for the Oregon National Guard, at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, Salem, Ore., July 12. Prigmore was there to observe the training, which included more than 400 Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen taking part of the state’s coordinated and comprehensive effort to suppress wildfires. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Amy Elker, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)

200712-A-FS713-001: Oregon Senator Ron Wyden visited the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training July 12, to observe wildland firefighter training for the Oregon National Guard. The state’s coordinated and comprehensive wildfire suppression efforts include training more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard as wildland firefighters. (National Guard photo by Sgt. Cory Grogan, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)

200712-A-FS713-002: A member of the Oregon National Guard participates in wildland fire training at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training July 12. The state’s coordinated and comprehensive wildfire suppression efforts include training more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard as wildland firefighters. (National Guard photo by Sgt. Cory Grogan, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)

200712-A-FS713-003: Service members of the Oregon Air and Army National Guard participate in wildland fire training at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training July 12. The state’s coordinated and comprehensive wildfire suppression efforts include training more than 400 citizen-soldiers and citizen-airmen from the Oregon National Guard as wildland firefighters. (National Guard photo by Sgt. Cory Grogan, Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs)