thedrifter
11-02-07, 06:27 AM
Today is Friday, November 02, 2007
Originally published Friday, November 02, 2007
Updated Friday, November 02, 2007
Marines will prepare
to fight another foe
New training agreement could put more helicopters at the ready to battle blazes.
By Michael R. Blood
The Associated Press
The Marines agreed Thursday to train with state firefighters - a move that could get more water-dropping helicopters into the air when wildfires break out.
As many as 100 Marines will train today with firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection at the Marine Corps' Miramar base in San Diego. State firefighters train routinely with Navy and California National Guard helicopter crews, and they had pushed the Marines to conduct similar drills.
With training for pilots and crews, "we know we are going to be able to get a quicker response" if Marine helicopters are called in to assist on wildfires, said Mike Padilla, the state agency's aviation chief.
The agreement could help clear up confusion over the availability of military aircraft and flight rules that left some Marine helicopters grounded early on in last week's deadly blazes.
The state had sought a training agreement with the Marines, but Padilla said in an earlier interview that the demands of the Iraq war made it difficult for the Marines to commit to regular training with state firefighters.
The Marines did not immediately return a call Thursday night seeking comment.
The training will allow the Marines to work with helicopter managers, also know as spotters, who play a crucial role on flights coordinating water drops and communicating with firefighters on the ground. A shortage of the managers ruled out a chance some helicopters could get in the air quickly last week.
"We team up our managers with the crews. That's part of our training," Padilla said.
Military aircraft are called in to supplement state and local fire resources, when needed.
That was the case last week when more than a dozen fires exploded amid gusting Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames, which devoured more than a half-million acres and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
That was the case last week when more than a dozen fires exploded amid gusting Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames, which devoured more than a half-million acres and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
Ellie
Originally published Friday, November 02, 2007
Updated Friday, November 02, 2007
Marines will prepare
to fight another foe
New training agreement could put more helicopters at the ready to battle blazes.
By Michael R. Blood
The Associated Press
The Marines agreed Thursday to train with state firefighters - a move that could get more water-dropping helicopters into the air when wildfires break out.
As many as 100 Marines will train today with firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection at the Marine Corps' Miramar base in San Diego. State firefighters train routinely with Navy and California National Guard helicopter crews, and they had pushed the Marines to conduct similar drills.
With training for pilots and crews, "we know we are going to be able to get a quicker response" if Marine helicopters are called in to assist on wildfires, said Mike Padilla, the state agency's aviation chief.
The agreement could help clear up confusion over the availability of military aircraft and flight rules that left some Marine helicopters grounded early on in last week's deadly blazes.
The state had sought a training agreement with the Marines, but Padilla said in an earlier interview that the demands of the Iraq war made it difficult for the Marines to commit to regular training with state firefighters.
The Marines did not immediately return a call Thursday night seeking comment.
The training will allow the Marines to work with helicopter managers, also know as spotters, who play a crucial role on flights coordinating water drops and communicating with firefighters on the ground. A shortage of the managers ruled out a chance some helicopters could get in the air quickly last week.
"We team up our managers with the crews. That's part of our training," Padilla said.
Military aircraft are called in to supplement state and local fire resources, when needed.
That was the case last week when more than a dozen fires exploded amid gusting Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames, which devoured more than a half-million acres and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
That was the case last week when more than a dozen fires exploded amid gusting Santa Ana winds that fanned the flames, which devoured more than a half-million acres and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.
Ellie