Cal Guard Soldiers activated to combat wildfires receive CAL FIRE training at Camp Roberts

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill | A Cal Fire officer instructs California Army National Guard Soldiers on the proper wear of their protective personal equipment in preparation for their mission helping combat wildfires currently raging throughout the state, on Aug. 23, 2020, Camp San Luis Obispo, California. (California National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberly S. Hill)  

CAMP ROBERTS, CA, UNITED STATES

08.27.2020

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill 

California National Guard Primary   

Cal Guard Soldiers activated to combat wildfires receive CAL FIRE training at Camp Roberts

by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill
California National Guard Public Affairs

CAMP ROBERTS, Calif. (Aug. 27, 2020) — Nearly 300 troops from the California Army National Guard’s 40th Infantry Division were activated last week and received training at Camp Roberts, California to aid the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in combating wildfires currently raging throughout the state.

“The California National Guard has a unique mission. Not only do we have our federal mission… we have our state mission which is to support the governor and the civil authorities. We come from the community, this is our home,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. David S. Chang, officer in charge of the task force and 250th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion commander.

With over 1.6 million acres destroyed so far, troops from the 40th Infantry Division’s subordinate units, including the 250th EMIB, 749th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and the 144th Field Artillery Regiment, were called to emergency state active duty to receive fire training from CAL FIRE late last week prior to being sent to the field.

Due to the urgency and severity of the wildfires throughout the state, CAL FIRE has implemented a comprehensive schedule in order to train the Soldiers and get them in the field supporting local authorities and firefighting elements as quickly as possible, said CAL FIRE Capt. Sean Sunahara, a coordinator for the department’s Training Center South.

“It is a huge win for us to be able to use the California National Guard as a cooperator to make our hand crew system more robust and to go out there and effectively assist a lot of the teams out there,” said Sunahara.

The training includes how to use an emergency fire shelter, classroom instruction on fire behavior and safety, and hand crew line training. Proper protective equipment is issued to troops working on hand crews and are responsible for reinforcing or widening the space between the fire line and potential fuel sources to prevent the fire from spreading further, Sunahara said.

Although some Cal Guard members have years of experience working on hand crews during fire season, for many Soldiers, this is their first time working with CAL FIRE and receiving the hand crew training. Spc. Andrew Villafuerte, an armor crewman with 216th Engineer Company, was activated last week for his first fire mission.

“It’s important because we need to assist whoever needs help. We’re working with knowledgeable firefighters and it’s very good training,” said Villafuerte, an Orange County native.

This has been a busy year for Cal Guard Soldiers. Many were activated for COVID-19 pandemic response missions and civil support missions. Despite multiple activations and time away from their homes, serving the communities they live and work in is worth the long hours, said Chang.

“Our Soldiers are from all across the state, and for many of them these fires have impacted their families. Not only are we here to support the firefighters and the state, but we’re also here to support our local communities and our families, that live in these communities.”

• Date Taken: 08.27.2020
• Date Posted: 08.27.2020 15:09
• Story ID: 376924
• Location: CAMP ROBERTS, CA, US
• Hometown: ORANGE COUNTY, CA, US