U.S. Army North supports California firefighting efforts

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lori Simmons | Emergency response vehicles from a U.S. Army North operational command post sit on the tarmac waiting to be loaded on a C-17, Oct. 24, Kelly Airfield, San Antonio, Texas. Military and civilian personnel from Army North are deploying in response to the wildfires burning in California.  

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

10.30.2007

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army North

U.S. Army North Public Affairs

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Army North has deployed an operational command post to southern California to provide command and control of DOD forces supporting firefighting efforts. This is the first time U.S. Northern Command has directed operational deployment of an Army North OCP.

Army North's Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Matthews, OCP commander, is currently assessing the incident and providing advice to state and federal emergency personnel on DOD support as part of a command assessment element.

Once his duties are completed with the CAE, the general will serve as DOD's on-scene representative to provide command and control of responding active-duty forces.

Matthews' team of military experts provides unique and diverse capabilities as part of a coordinated federal response effort led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in support of the state of California.

"We are committed to being responsive to the needs of the people," said Matthews. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by these fires. The men and women of Army North will remain aggressively engaged 24/7 to help save lives, reduce property loss and mitigate suffering."

Since reaching initial operating capability in late 2005, Army North has been working and planning with federal, state and local agencies to be prepared for this type of response. Lessons learned from Katrina have also been incorporated into planning scenarios and exercises.

Army North's Region IX defense coordinating officer, Col. Mark Armstrong, is currently facilitating requests from FEMA, the lead federal agency for any DOD support.

"We have (been) coordinating the establishment of a federal operating staging area to move federal assets through," Armstrong said. "We are also coordinating the transportation of life-sustaining evacuation items to thousands of people displaced by the fires."

As the Region IX DCO, Armstrong and his coordinating element prepare for civil support missions by working daily with federal and state emergency planners and consequence managers in the three-state region of Arizona, California and Nevada.

Army North provides defense support to civil authorities as the Army component of U.S. NORTHCOM, the unified command on Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., that is responsible for homeland defense and civil support.

• Date Taken: 10.30.2007
• Date Posted: 10.30.2007 11:55
• Story ID: 13480
• Location: FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS, US