Media Release
April 10,
2015
Contact:
Colorado National Guard: TSgt Jecca Geffre
Cell: (303) 912-3829
Media Availability to Showcase Colorado Interagency Wildfire Response Training
Denver,
Colo, Thursday, April 10, 2015 – The Colorado Army National Guard 2nd
Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, based at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora,
will partner with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Bureau of Land Management, and Colorado Division of Fire Prevention
and Control in an annual inter-agency wildland fire training exercise by
conducting helicopter-based fire suppression training April 10-16. The 2-135th
AVN will be working with active duty Army aviation units from Ft. Carson, as
well as National Guard units from Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Residents and visitors in and near the vicinity of Chatfield Reservoir, Waterton Canyon and Strontia Springs Reservoir may notice military helicopters in the area during daylight hours approximately from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as military personnel conduct training exercises in preparation for wildfire response. All training has been closely coordinated with park staff to ensure it is conducted in a safe manner with minimal to park visitors or park operations. The parks will remain open during the exercises.
Residents and visitors in and near the vicinity of Chatfield Reservoir, Waterton Canyon and Strontia Springs Reservoir may notice military helicopters in the area during daylight hours approximately from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as military personnel conduct training exercises in preparation for wildfire response. All training has been closely coordinated with park staff to ensure it is conducted in a safe manner with minimal to park visitors or park operations. The parks will remain open during the exercises.
Months of preparation were required for this exercise,
ensuring the coordination of site locations, planning, movement of equipment
and environmental considerations.
News Conference/ Media Availability Information
News Conference/ Media Availability Information
Date: Friday, April, 10, 2015
Time: 9 a.m. (Arrive
at Gate no later than 8:45 a.m.)
Place: Buckley Air Force Base, Mississippi Gate, Aurora
Colorado
News
media representatives should arrive at the Mississippi Avenue gate one block
east of Tower Road. Media will drive
through the commercial vehicle lane and their vehicles will be searched.
Media representatives must have proof of insurance, vehicle registration,
identification and valid press credentials (business cards are
sufficient). Media will be escorted to the Army Aviation Support
Facility. Media will be escorted off base at the conclusion of the
conference and/or when they have the material they require.
Speaking:
Agency representatives from Colorado National Guard, USFS and Colorado Division
of Fire Prevention and Control
Visuals Friday: Colorado National Guard aircraft and buckets, DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) will be onsite and participants actively learning from more than a dozen agencies. Visual opportunities for bucket drops will be shared during the media availability.
Planning has also included coordination with local
authorities including: Denver Water, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management, Bureau of
Indian Affairs, City of Longmont,
Longmont Fire, Boulder Wildland Fire Fighting Division, City of
Boulder and National Parks
Service.
Contacts: General questions regarding this training should be directed to the Colorado National Guard State Public Affairs Office at ng.co.coarng.list.staff-pao2@mail.mil or 720-250-1053.
Agency specific questions should be directed to:
- Colorado DFPC and DHSEM, PIO: Micki Trost, micki.trost@state.co.us, 303-472-4087
- USFS, PIO: Lawrence Lujan, lmlujan@fs.fed.us, 303-275-5356
- Denver Water, Senior Media Coordinator: Travis Thompson, travis.thompson@denverwater.org, 303-628-6700
- Ft. Carson, Media Relations Chief, Dani Johnson, daneta.johnson.civ@mail.mil, 719-338-0506
