Alaska Air National Guard firefighters help fight Moose Creek Fire as

Alaska Air National Guard firefighters help fight Moose Creek Fire as fires burn in Nevada and Oklahoma

By Staff Sgt. Daniel Bellerive | Alaska National Guard | October 18, 2016

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Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Tanner Lauderback, a crew chief with 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, keeps a line of sight on the bucket attached to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as he prepares to release water during a firefighting mission near Cooper Landing, Alaska, June 17, 2015. Some Alaska Air Guard members are fighting the Moose Creek Fire this week. (Photo by Sgt. Balinda O'Neal Dresel)

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JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Six Alaska Air National Guard firefighters from the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron are helping fight the Moose Creek Fire.

The Alaska National Guard received the Division of Forestry’s official request for support from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center through the State Emergency Operations Command Center on Monday about 9 a.m. They provided the requested "Red Card" certified wildland firefighters within four hours.

The Alaska Division of Forestry says high winds and limited resources pose a significant challenge to the firefighters contending with the 300-acre blaze that has come within about 75 feet of the highway.

Air National Guard members reported to the Division of Forestry in Palmer around noon with their personal protective equipment and firefighting gear, and will support the firefighting effort through Wednesday.

Elsewhere, about a dozen Guard members were helping fight a fire in Nevada's Washoe Valley that consumed at least 22 homes. In Oklahoma, about 10 National Guard members were on standby if needed to assist in fire suppression, according to the National Guard Bureau.