Photo By Staff Sgt. Ian Kummer | California Army National Guard Soldiers in Task Force 340th cut line at the Lodge...... read more read more
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Chop! Chop! Chop! The sounds of axes and chain saws echo across the wooded valley. Smoke and dust fills the air. Soldiers in full firefighting gear fan out across the rugged terrain, clearing a path on the forest floor.
These were the California Army National Guard Soldiers of Task Force 340h, the hand crews who teamed up with the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection (Cal Fire) to fight the Lodge wildfire near Laytonville, Calif., Aug. 8.
While helicopter crews and their support teams work tirelessly throughout the day dropping thousands of gallons of water on the raging firestorm, hand crews on the ground are tasked with the hazardous duty of cutting lines — removing undergrowth and low hanging branches to deprive the approaching blaze of fuel to burn.
“Most people wouldn't be too excited to get out here and start chopping away at stuff,” said Spc. Donald Tietjen, a truck driver with the 113th Transportation Company, 340th Brigade Support Battalion, who recently returned from a combat deployment to Afghanistan. “But in the military we take orders and get the job done.”
As a disciplined military force, Task Force 340th proved themselves as capable partners for Cal Fire.
“They're eager and have a good attitude,” said Fire Capt. Eric Kielhorn from Cal Fire. “We're going to have a real good time.”
Just the day before leaving for the Lodge Fire, the task force members had finished three days of training with Cal Fire at Camp Roberts, Calif. Thanks to this preparation, the Soldiers hit the ground with a good idea of what to expect.
“This is a great team, and we're moving smoothly,” said Spc. Joseph Morning Jr., a task force member from the 340th Brigade Support Battalion.
Though these hand crews have had a good run so far, there is still more work to be done. And even after the Lodge Fire has been put out, the wildfire season still has weeks to go.
“The terrain is thick, so we're drinking a lot of water and pacing ourselves,” said Staff Sgt. Scott Stoner from the 113th TC.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2014 20:32 |
| Story ID: | 139025 |
| Location: | SACRAMENTO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 206 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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