FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
CONTACT:
Colorado National Guard Public Affairs,
ng.co.coarng.list.staff-pao@mail.mil, 720-250-1053
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Per a verbal executive order from
Gov. John Hickenlooper, Oct. 17, 2016, the Colorado National Guard began
preparations to support civil authorities in fighting the Junkins Fire.
The Colorado Department of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management tasked the CONG to provide two UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopters, equipped with water buckets, for direct support to firefighting
operations.
Aircrews flying two helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets
and two crews operating fuel trucks arrived on scene and will base out of the
designated Junkins Fire air base. The air crews began water drop operations at
or around 3:20 p.m.
"The Colorado National Guard is here to help local,
state, and federal authorities contain this fire as quickly as possible. We'll remain on scene as long as we're
needed," said Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, The Adjutant General of
Colorado. “Our mission is to protect our communities and save lives and
property.”
During the Cold Springs Fire in July, the last fire that
the CONG supported, the CONG dropped more than 65,000 gallons of water on the
fire through 18.3 flight hours.
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For Assignment Editors: For more information and updates
on the Junkins Fire please contact Dawn Sanchez, Public Information Officer for
the Type I Incident Management Team, at dmsanchez@fs.fed.us. For information
specifically about the Colorado National Guard or its support to the Junkins
Fire, contact ng.co.coarng.list.staff-pao@mail.mil, or 720-250-1053.
